an article on the SMH website:

"Homebodies raise the drawbridge to avoid an out-of-control world"

The study on the mood of the nation by Australia SCAN found scepticism about business and government, a gloomy economic outlook and constant erosion of time and energy are leading to a sense of a loss of control.

To offset this, people are spending more time eating at home, doing household chores and planning family activities than they were a year ago. The report's author, David Chalke, said people were saying: "The focus is home. It is the place where I'm more in control than anywhere else; it's where my friends and family are … it's the centre of my universe."

...You cannot dismiss the influence that money has at the moment. They are all worried about it. Clearly, it costs less to stay at home," Ms Dangar said.

Australia SCAN also found 70 per cent of homes had DVD players, up from 4 per cent six years ago. Watching DVDs was the second most popular leisure activity after television viewing.

You can view the original article here.