Monday anxiety leaves lasting stress signs across body, study finds
Study finds ‘Monday anxiety’ doesn’t stop once you retire
- A new study reveals that feeling anxious on Mondays is associated with significantly elevated long-term stress hormone levels, persisting for up to two months.
- Published in the Journal of Affective Disorders, the research observed this 'anxious Monday' effect in both working individuals and retirees.
- Older adults reporting Monday anxiety exhibited nearly 25 per cent higher cortisol levels in their hair samples, indicating cumulative stress exposure.
- The findings suggest that societal rhythms, rather than solely workplace demands, profoundly influence human physiology and contribute to lasting health risks, including cardiovascular diseases.
- Researchers believe that targeting Monday-specific stressors could offer new approaches to combat heart disease in ageing populations, noting a nearly 20 per cent increase in heart attacks on Mondays.