The Meaning of “Cabin Fever”

Abstract

Summary Elicitation interviews on the topic of “cabin fever” were carried out with a sample of 35 Minnesota men and women, ages 17 to 84. Informant conceptions of cabin fever overlapped but were not identical with common behavioral science terms, and even knowledgeable informants differed from one another in understandings of the concept. The feelings that were most salient in informant reports included feelings of dissatisfaction at home, restlessness, boredom, irritability, and needing to break routine. Informants typically reported dealing with cabin fever through self-help or help given by friends and relatives. Few people had ever sought help from professionals. Many coping solutions involved a change in physical or mental scenery. Additionally, having the concept of “cabin fever” may have been useful in itself, providing a way to interpret what was going on and to point to coping strategies.

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