Bored to death

People can really be bored to death. That’s what British researchers found when they studied more than 7000 people over a period of 25 years. Those who experienced high levels of boredom were nearly 40 percent more likely to have died by the end of the study.

People can really be bored to death. That’s what British researchers found when they studied more than 7000 people over a period of 25 years. Those who experienced high levels of boredom were nearly 40 percent more likely to have died by the end of the study. As a possible cause, researchers found that bored people were more likely to smoke and drink.

WHYY’s Behavioral Health reporter Maiken Scott spoke with psychologist Dan Gottlieb about boredom – and why we experience it: [audio:100215msdrdan.mp3]