Housework 'makes you depressed', say scientists

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telegraph

By Tom Peterkin (Filed: 30/09/2002)

Scientists have proved what many housewives have known for years - that washing dishes, dusting, ironing and cleaning can make you depressed.

Researchers discovered that housework lowers people's mood when they asked hundreds of people about their activity in the home, at work and during leisure time.

Prof Nanette Mutrie, the research leader at the University of Glasgow, said: "There is well-documented evidence that moderate and vigorous activity could be a preventative treatment for depression. But when we looked at this more closely we found that it may depend on the activity."

Using a depression monitor called the hospital and anxiety depression scale, the researchers found that housework had a negative impact.

Pro Mutrie said: "With vigorous exercise the effect is clear: the more you do, the better it is for well-being. With housework it is the opposite - the more you do the more depression you report."

Prof Mutrie admitted that those doing lots of housework might have other reasons for feeling down - because they were often stuck at home with dependents, for example.

-- Anonymous, September 30, 2002

Answers

Housework usually makes me feel good, but prolly because I let it go too long in between. I get a sense of accomplishment. Like this past weekend, attacking the kitchen, finally discovering the source of the pantry moth invasion in my house. (Wasn't just the open moldy bird seed in the garage.) Boy, that top cabinet food shelf in my kitchen was ready to be torched! And I found a large bag of almonds that were getting a bit mealy. The squirrels were SO thankful.

-- Anonymous, September 30, 2002

LOL! I try to put everything in either ziplocks or tins--I lived in New Orleans for too long! Gawd, I bet Charleston has huge flying roaches too.

-- Anonymous, September 30, 2002

So then..............could this be used as a good excuse NOT to clean house??? I am afraid it would never work for me because I get so depressed when I wait more than 6 months to clean house LOL ;>)

-- Anonymous, September 30, 2002

Of course housework is depressing. So is pushing a rope. They paid people money to determine this?

-- Anonymous, September 30, 2002

Wow! I know I get depressed if the house is too messy. So now I'm going to get depressed cleaning it?

Maybe I should just give up and not own anything and hire a maid to wash down the walls and floors once a year.

-- Anonymous, September 30, 2002



I once possessed a postcard showing a beaming mother going la la la as she did housework. The mother was being observed by a baby in a high chair, with the thought balloon, "Gee, I hope this shit isn't hereditary."

-- Anonymous, September 30, 2002

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