Saying "No" to Unwanted Invitations

Learning to decline unwanted festive invitations may positively impact mental health, according to recent research by the American Psychological Association. The study, involving over 2,000 participants across five experiments, reveals that the fear of consequences associated with declining invitations is often exaggerated. More than 75% of survey respondents admitted to accepting unwanted invitations due to concerns about potential repercussions.

Dr. Julian Givi, the lead researcher, emphasized that rejecting invitations can help avoid burnout, a risk that increases during the Christmas season when invitations are abundant. The study challenges the common belief that loved ones would be significantly upset by a declined invitation. In one experiment, participants were asked to imagine scenarios where they declined an invitation or their friend declined theirs. Those who imagined rejecting an invitation often overestimated the negative impact on their relationship with the friend, assuming feelings of anger, disappointment, and reduced likelihood of future invitations.

Another experiment involved couples participating in a survey, where one member invited the other to an activity, and the partner had to reject the invitation to relax. Those who rejected an invitation tended to believe their partner would be angrier or perceive the rejection as a sign of not caring, more than the partners actually reported feeling.

Dr. Givi highlighted that “Our research gives us quite a bit of good reason to predict people overestimate the negative ramifications for our relationships.” He encouraged individuals not to fear declining invitations occasionally, as burnout is a genuine concern, especially during busy holiday seasons. While declining invitations can be beneficial for mental well-being, Dr. Givi emphasized the importance of spending time with others for relationship development, suggesting a balanced approach to managing social engagements.

_{Repurposed article originally published in the mirror}