Want to skip that Christmas party? The host probably won’t mind, study shows

US research finds that people who decline an invitation regularly overestimate negative consequences

If you'd rather spend an evening in your pyjamas than go to the office Christmas party, you can breath a sigh of relief: researchers say hosts tend to be more understanding about rejections than anticipated.

Researchers in the US have found that while people are often concerned that turning down an invitation will upset the host, and lead to fewer invitations in the future, their fears tend to be exaggerated.