Depression is a serious mental health condition characterized by persistent feelings of sadness, a lack of interest in everyday activities, and a lack of energy and motivation. Depression can affect anyone, regardless of age, gender, or background, but can you ‘catch’ depression from a friend or a loved one? Let’s find out.
The answer to whether you can catch depression from someone else is quite complex. While depression isn’t a condition that can spread through touch or physical contact like a cold or flu, living with or being close to someone who has depression may increase the risk of developing depressive symptoms. Let’s explore this in-depth
Is Depression Contagious? Here’s What Research Says
While depression is not contagious in a traditional sense, like an infection, there are multiple research studies to suggest that being around a person with depression regularly can have a negative impact on your thinking and mood, increasing the risk for depression.
A study conducted in 1994 on 96 pairs of college roommates found that if one roommate becomes depressed, the other roommate is more likely to become depressed too over three weeks. They also found that roommates who are more likely to seek reassurance from others are more likely to catch depression from a depressed roommate, suggesting that depressive symptoms can indeed be contagious.
Another study conducted in 2014, on 100 pairs of college roommates found that students who lived with a roommate who struggled with rumination ( the tendency to get caught up with negative thinking and feelings) also developed the tendency to ruminate over six months, which increased their risk of developing depression. The research concluded that depressive symptoms aren’t directly contagious, but one can certainly pick up negative thinking styles from people with depression.
Another study conducted on married couples in 2022 found that spouses are more likely to use antidepressants if their partner does. They found that spouses in a household with their partner using antidepressants are 62.1% more likely to use antidepressants themselves. This effect is strongest in the year after the partner starts taking antidepressants (29.3%) and then weakens over time (15.1% after two years).
Thus, there is ample evidence to suggest that while depressive symptoms aren’t contagious, living with or regularly interacting with a person with depression can put people at risk of developing depressive symptoms.
Risk Factors For Depression
While being around a person with depression may increase the risk of depression, it is important to understand that it is not the only determining factor. Various other factors can put a person at risk for depression. They are:
- Having a family history of depression
- Having a previous diagnosis of a mental health condition such as substance use disorders, anxiety, etc
- Having a history of childhood trauma
- Current stressors or major life events
How to Protect Yourself Against Depression?
If you are living with or close to someone who is depressed, here are some ways you can protect your mental well-being while supporting them.
- Encourage your loved one to seek professional help in the form of therapy or medication. Remind yourself that as much as you want to help, you are not solely responsible for their well-being.
- If you realize supporting your loved one is impacting your mental health, consider setting boundaries on how much you want to be available for them while preserving your well-being.
- Take time to engage in self-care activities that help you recharge. Regular exercise, proper sleep, and engaging in hobbies can help you maintain emotional balance.
- Supporting someone with depression can be overwhelming, thus, it is important to talk to someone about your feelings. This could be a friend, a family member, or a therapist. Sharing your emotional struggles helps prevent feelings of isolation and depression.
Conclusion:
While depression is not directly contagious, supporting someone or being around someone with depression can adversely impact your own emotional health and well-being. However, you do not have to stop being there for your loved one who is depressed because you can manage the emotional impact by setting boundaries, encouraging your loved one to seek professional help, practicing self-care, and seeking support for yourself.
References:
- Is Depression “Contagious”? | Psychology Today. (n.d.-b). Retrieved October 15, 2024, from https://www.psychologytoday.com/intl/blog/how-be-yourself/201606/is-depression-contagious
- Is Depression Contagious? How It Spreads and What to Do About It. (2018, May 23). Healthline. https://www.healthline.com/health/is-depression-contagious
- Is Depression Contagious? The Impact Of Depression On Relationships | BetterHelp Online Therapy. (n.d.-c). Retrieved October 15, 2024, from https://www.betterhelp.com
- Joiner, T. E. (1994). Contagious depression: Existence, specificity to depressed symptoms, and the role of reassurance seeking. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 67(2), 287–296. https://doi.org/10.1037/0022-3514.67.2.287
- Kristensen, T. B., Pfeffer, J., Dahl, M. S., Holm, M., & Feldhues, M. L. (2022). Does depression co-occur within households? The moderating effects of financial resources and job insecurity on psychological contagion. SSM – Population Health, 19, 101212. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ssmph.2022.101212
