Travel is stressful for the spouse who stays behind

The partners of frequent flyers are much more likely to suffer from mental health problems than those whose partners come home every night, a survey shows.

The study of the spouses of 4,200 World Bank employees found that four or more overseas assignments a year resulted in a tripling of spouses' insurance claims for stress related disorders.

Wives bear the brunt of the problem. More than two-thirds of the World Bank spouses were women, and married men were found to be more than twice as likely to travel than their female counterparts.

Both sexes suffered psychologically if a spouse was repeatedly absent, said the survey published in the journal 'Occupational and Environmental Medicine.'

Previous research has indicated that women respond to stress with depression and anxiety, and men resort to alcohol, the study noted.

The partners of frequent travelers also suffered from more than their share of skin problems and gut disorders, the study of the World Bank staff found. Female spouses showed a higher tendency to suffer from back problems

The research backs up earlier studies suggesting that frequent short trips are more damaging than a single long one. The disruption of family life, difficulties with children, and loneliness, all cause stress for the partner staying at home.

Problems are greatest just before and after a trip, when the traveler is first rushing to depart and is then tired after a busy schedule.

The study's authors suggested that a stressed spouse can reduce an employee's productivity and urged employers to find ways of reducing the impact of frequent travel on staff and their families.