IKEA "Make Room for Living" Study Shows the Spread of "Carpal Tunnel Syndrome of the Home"

Furniture World Magazine

A new study by IKEA shows that computers may be affecting our lives in more than a technological way. The survey found that computers are now the number one cause of minor at home arguments – with 25 percent of domestic bliss breakers erupting over computer issues. Households with children that have more than one computer were three times less likely to eat dinner together on a regular basis compared to families with no computers. In fact, parents living in homes with three or more computers were the least likely of all those surveyed to have romantic interludes in the morning. The IKEA "Make Room for Living" survey queried 386 families across the country to find out exactly what living space issues in the home can cause stress, conflict and disarray in the household. The results of the survey showed that dissention and disagreement among the family unit can occur when a computer is integrated into another living space in the home. When asked what room three years ago caused the most conflict – 41 percent of families said the bathroom. However, when asked the same question about today, 53 percent indicated that it was a room with a computer in it, and bathroom fell to second place at 23 percent. "Computers enable us to do a multitude of both pleasurable and needed tasks," explained Janice Simonsen, IKEA North America. "By the very nature of what a computer can do, conflict can arise since computing today often takes place in rooms that have other uses such as a family room or a bedroom. The way we design and furnish a home becomes an integral element in making that multi-use room organized, aesthetically-pleasing and conflict free." Other interesting findings include: 67 percent of children with computers in their rooms argued with their parents at least four times a week compared to 78 percent of children without computers in their room argued an average of only once a week. Computer-owning households were four times more likely to say that they did something romantic once or twice a year compared to households without computers who indicated that they did something romantic at least twice a month. In response to the "Make Room for Living" Survey, IKEA is establishing "Make Room for Living" experts on computer and life integration in the home, at all IKEA stores, except Seattle. "Make Room for Living" experts can share ideas and solutions about how to easily create more space in the home and achieve a stress-free environment.