Declining Invitations Less Damaging to Relationships Than Feared, Study Finds

Over 75% of People Accept Unwanted Invitations Due to Fear of Consequences, But Hosts Show More Understanding Than Expected

People often overestimate the negative social consequences of declining an invitation, according to a study led by Julian Givi, an assistant professor at West Virginia University.
The study, which involved over 2,000 participants across five experiments, found that 77% of respondents accepted an invitation to an activity they did not want to attend due to fear of the consequences of declining.
Participants who imagined declining an invitation believed it would have immediate negative ramifications for their relationship, including anger and disappointment from the host, and a decrease in future invitations.
However, these fears were found to be exaggerated, with hosts not focusing as much on the rejection itself as invitees anticipated.
Givi suggests that occasionally turning down invitations could help avoid burnout, especially during the holiday season when people are often invited to too many events.