{"id":4621,"date":"2026-06-05T14:02:44","date_gmt":"2026-06-05T14:02:44","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/bangbizarre.com\/index.php\/2026\/06\/05\/too-much-time-with-work-colleagues-damages-mental-health\/"},"modified":"2026-06-05T14:02:45","modified_gmt":"2026-06-05T14:02:45","slug":"too-much-time-with-work-colleagues-damages-mental-health","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/bangbizarre.com\/index.php\/2026\/06\/05\/too-much-time-with-work-colleagues-damages-mental-health\/","title":{"rendered":"Too much time with work colleagues damages mental health"},"content":{"rendered":"

2026-06-05 14:02:43<\/b>
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Spending too much time with work colleagues could be bad for your mental health, according to a study that found constant proximity can lead to conflict, loneliness and even paranoia.

\nResearchers studying scientists living in one of the world’s most isolated environments discovered that being surrounded by the same people day and night can put serious strain on relationships.

\nThe findings could have major implications for future missions to Mars and planned lunar bases, where astronauts will spend months or even years living in confined spaces together.

\nScientists from the University of Zurich and other European institutions followed a 12-person team during a ten-month stay at the French-Italian Concordia research station in Antarctica.

\nUsing proximity sensors and regular psychological assessments, they tracked how relationships changed over the course of the mission.

\nThe results painted a troubling picture.

\nResearchers identified “a progressive increase in feelings of loneliness and conflict, while cohesion and individual performance declined”.

\nThe study, published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, found: “Loneliness scores progressively increased and reached levels comparable to moderate social isolation in the general population.”

\nScientists added that growing loneliness was associated with “increases in conflict and paranoid ideation”.

\nDespite living and working together constantly, team members became more suspicious of one another over time.

\nThe study reported “forms of suspiciousness involving the perception that others are commenting on or observing oneself”, while “elevated levels of mistrust” emerged by the middle of the mission.

\nResearchers also found colleagues who spent more time together were more likely to clash.

\nThe group gradually split into nationality-based cliques, creating what scientists described as a “risk of social fragmentation in multicultural crews”.

\nStudy author Jan Schmutz said the findings challenged assumptions about teamwork.

\nHe told The Economist: “In this confined environment it is exactly the opposite. We humans are deeply social creatures, but also there are boundaries.”

\nThe researchers warned that future deep-space missions could face similar psychological challenges.

\nThe study said: “Human space exploration is on the brink of a new era.”

\nIt added that long-duration missions would expose crews to “unprecedented levels of isolation” and “extreme psychological and physiological challenges”.

\nReferencing Stephen King’s famous horror story, the researchers noted: “The Shining captures a similar intuition: in prolonged isolation, constant proximity does not necessarily strengthen relationships but can instead amplify tension, mistrust, and psychological strain.”
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