Frequent flyers lose
health, family love too.
ARE YOU A frequent traveler?
By striving to travel far, wide and frequently, you are not only damaging your
health but also spoiling relationships with loved ones, an interesting study
has revealed. The appealing images of a traveler portrayed in the media do not
take into account the damaging side effects such as jet-lag, deep vein
thrombosis, radiation exposure, stress, loneliness and distance from community
and family networks.
You must have seen a man in a
sharp suit, reclining in a leather chair, laptop open in front of him, a smiley
stewardess serving a beverage and soda. "This is often the image of
travel, particularly business travel portrayed in TV ads and glossy magazines.
But there is a dark side to this glamorized 'hyper mobile' lifestyle that the
media and society ignores," explained Dr Scott Cohen from University of
Surrey in Britain in a statement.
The researchers from
University of Surrey and Lund University in Sweden found that those with "hyper
mobile" lifestyles were often seen as having a higher social status.
By assessing how first-class
flights, "must-see" destinations and frequent-flyer programs are
represented, the study shows how the "dark side" of travel is
ignored.
"The level of
physiological, physical and societal stress that frequent travels places upon
individuals has potentially serious and long-term negative effects that range
from the breaking down of family relationships, to changes in our genes due to
lack of sleep," Dr Cohen noted.
It is not only traditional
media that perpetuates this image.
"Social media encourages
competition between travelers to 'check-in' and share content from far-flung
destinations," the authors noted.
The reality is that most
people who are required to engage in frequent travel suffer high levels of stress,
loneliness and long-term health problems.
"There are also wider
implications for the environment and sustainability. In this context, hyper
mobility seems far from glamorous," they added.
The researchers call for more
discussion on the adverse effects of hyper mobility, to realistically reflect
the negative impact of frequent and long-haul travel.
"Society needs to recognize
that the jet-set lifestyle is not all it's made out to be," Dr Cohen
concluded.
