Leisure sickness affects 22 percent of Germans during holidays

A study conducted by the International University of Bad Honnef-Bonn indicates that 22 percent of Germans have experienced ‘leisure sickness,’ a phenomenon where individuals fall ill during their time off.

Symptoms reported include flu-like infections, sore throats, fever, fatigue, and nausea. Researchers suggest several theories for why this occurs, including psychological factors such as guilt over relaxing or the inability to mentally disconnect from work. Another prominent theory is that chronic stress suppresses the immune system during busy periods, causing symptoms to manifest only once stress levels drop and hormone levels stabilize.