What Is the Psychology Behind Christmas?
Every year many of us spend this time of year bringing out the Christmas cheer. But have we considered how the holidays affect our well-being?
It seems like 2022 has only just begun, lo and behold we are in December, the most wonderful time of the year. Mariah Carey is blasting on the radio, winter markets are being set up, boxes of decorations are emerging from the dust and everyone is queuing in the stores to get presents for their loved ones. All in all, tis the season to be jolly. If you haven’t guessed already, this article is going to be about Christmas. So let us explore all the ways that Christmas influences our behaviour and well-being.
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The Christmas Cheer
Having Christmas cheer is considered to be a core part of the jolly season. Christmas time can influence our brain’s neurochemistry by increasing the levels of dopamine or serotonin. In fact, research has shown that when individuals are shown images related to Christmas, certain regions of the brain get activated suggesting that the Christmas cheer actually has a physical effect on us. This is believed to happen because our brain tends to integrate our physiological state, environment and experiences to formulate a subjective feeling inside us, subsequently creating an ‘on-demand experience’.
Moreover, Christmas cheer is often made use of by brands to increase the number of sales throughout the month, For example, when consumers walk into a store decked out with Christmas decor and playing Christmas hits were more likely to be considered positive than stores that did not spruce up their interiors.
It is also the time of year when everyone comes together with their loved ones to spend some quality time. Although each of us has unique traditions to celebrate Christmas, the holidays can have a positive effect on our well-being.
Positive Effects of Christmas on Our Well-Being
Most of us tend to spend our holidays with family and friends, from rockin’ around the Christmas tree to having dinner together, Christmas often brings a sense of togetherness. Research has shown that individuals had lower levels of stress as well as conflicts, increasing their overall positive emotions and reporting higher levels of life satisfaction. The positive emotions we experience when we are part of the group are referred to as collective effervescence, making us feel part of a bigger community.
Moreover, spending time with one another helps create numerous memories that we continue to cherish for a lifetime. We often tend to spend reminiscing these memories of the years gone by whilst also anticipating the upcoming year which is just around the corner. Revisiting nostalgic moments leads to individuals reporting higher levels of happiness. Also, like many other festivals, Christmas invokes a sense of gratitude within us which has been found that gratitude can also improve our overall well-being.
Though Christmas is a time for us to celebrate it can also take a toll on our well-being. Sometimes the effects of Christmas can be counterproductive which can instead lead to an increase in stress levels or increased feelings of loneliness ultimately having a negative impact on our mental well-being. The next section explores the different ways in which Christmas has a negative impact on their mental health.
Negative Effects of Christmas on Our Well-Being
This time of year is all about being jolly, spending time with family and celebrating the Christmas spirit. However, at times this puts an insurmountable amount of pressure on individuals to “do Christmas right”. Buying presents, decorating the house, and baking cookies are just a few of the activities we take part in during the season.
This is particularly challenging for individuals who experience chronic stress and find it particularly challenging and tiresome to manage the celebrations and all it entails. In fact, research has found that 51% of women find Christmas time to be stressful. Moreover, another Christmas stressor can be buying presents. One of the more common traditions of the holidays, individuals may feel a lot more stressed to buy presents, particularly if they are facing financial struggles. The average household in the UK spends about ￡700 more in December than any other time of the year, with at least 37% of them worried about not being able to pay their monthly bills. This ultimately perpetuates feelings of anxiety and guilt leading to an increase in stress levels among many individuals.
These pressures of having a swell time can be further enforced by social media to the extent that it amplifies feelings of loneliness, despite being surrounded by other people. In fact, 1 in 3 men are reported to feel lonely even in the presence of others and may sometimes feel coerced to attend social gatherings. Research has shown feelings of loneliness exacerbate our physiological well-being in various ways ranging from sleep deprivation to weight gain.
Christmas is a time to spread the Christmas cheer far and wide, spending time with those near and dear. Yet, despite being one of the most celebrated holidays, the weeks leading up to Christmas can prove to have adverse effects on our mental health affecting our well-being quite severely. We must take the time to ensure that we do not pressurize ourselves to experience everything related to Christmas all at once.
Happy Holidays!🎄
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