Is Depression Contagious? Emotional Contagion and Mental Health

Depression is a mental illness in the DSM-5 characterized by persistent sadness and loss of interest in activities, accompanied by a low mood. One might experience several symptoms alongside depression, including increased or decreased appetite, feelings of hopelessness, trouble sleeping, and difficulty concentrating. To be diagnosed with major depressive disorder, an individual usually has to experience persistent symptoms of depression for two weeks or more.

Although depression is a common mental health condition impacting over 280 million people worldwide, many people don't know how this condition can impact those living with it and the people in their lives. If you're wondering if depression is contagious, looking at statistics in psychology could be helpful.

What does it mean to say depression is contagious?

While you can't "catch" depression as you might catch a virus like a cold or flu, experts suggest that behavior and mood can influence the people you interact with. This is sometimes known as social contagion or depression contagion. For instance, you may pick up your mother's manner of walking in the same way you might feel more cheerful when she's smiling or laughing. You may adopt your partner's way of folding towels while also adopting their tendency to become agitated while waiting in slow lines in the grocery store. 

As social animals, humans often form patterns of behavior mimicking those they interact with. The more time you spend around someone, the more their behaviors may impact you.

Depression vs emotional contagion

It can be helpful to understand the difference between depression and emotional contagion.  Major depression is a diagnosable mental health disorder, characterized by persistent symptoms that endure over time. This mental health disorder often requires treatment through depression psychiatry or therapy. 

Emotional contagion, on the other hand, is characterized by a temporary flux in behavior and emotion. Emotion contagion typically only occurs during social interactions, when people unconsciously mimic the emotions and behaviors of others. 

The science behind depression contagion

Previous and recent studies have examined depression contagion, and whether negative thoughts, feelings, and attitudes can be transferred between friends and peers. 

Social contagion theory and peer effects

Social contagion is a theory suggesting that all types of attitudes, feelings, and behaviors transfer to one another through social networks and interactions. Peer contagion is when negative attitudes, feelings, and behaviors in particular, are spread through interactions with close friends, family members, and peers. Some examples of peer contagion may include:

• Bullying.
• Weapon carrying. 
• Disordered eating. 
• Drug use.
• Risk-taking.

Evidence from psychology and neuroscience research

Previous findings suggest that depression may be contagious, but more statistically significant research is needed to clarify this relationship. One present study used a large-scale research design to analyze spouses living in shared households. These findings suggest that individuals whose partners were taking antidepressants were 62.1% more likely to use antidepressants themselves.

Who is most affected by depression contagion?

How you respond to people with depression may be determined by various factors, including your own mental and emotional state, but certain factors may increase susceptibility to depression contagion. 

Close relationships, shared environments, and college students

Living with a depressed roommate or having a depressed partner may increase your exposure to depressive symptoms or related behaviors. For example, college students were more likely to binge drink – a behavior strongly associated with depression – if their roommate also engaged in binge drinking. However, this association was much stronger if the individuals had a close relationship. College students may also feel the need to conform with depressed peers when they share the same period of academic or social stress.

For this reason, university affiliations department programs may consider ways to support depressed college students, partnering with therapy services, clinics, and student welfare services. Couples therapy may also be beneficial for students with depressed partners. 

Gender differences and individual vulnerability

Women may be more likely than men to discuss emotional challenges and offer one another peer-support. While these conversations can help to form deep emotional and social connections, they may increase the likelihood of co-rumination. Research suggests that different types of rumination and depressive symptoms are more pronounced among women, showing potential gender differences as well as general individual differences in susceptibility.

How depressive behaviors may spread

In some cases, depressive behaviors may spread between people and social networks. The tendency to unconsciously mimic one another may explain this phenomenon. Known as automatic mimicry, people may naturally copy each other's facial expressions, postures, gestures, and speech. This interactional description of mood transfer may be caused by people's ability to be empathetic. 

External factors and shared activities

External factors may also amplify the risk of depressive behaviors spreading. From financial difficulties and workplace pressure to poor housing conditions, certain stressors can contribute to a depressed mood. For example, a lack of financial support may strain a couple's mental health and affect social comparison. 

Screen time has also been linked with depression, anxiety, and stress. The amount of time you spend on a screen may be influenced by the amount of time your friends, peers, and loved ones spend on theirs. For this reason, maintaining a healthy lifestyle and a consistent routine may serve as a protective factor against depression.

Is depression contagious in clinical terms?

In clinical terms, depression contagion is a real phenomenon, stating that people can be influenced by the depressive states of those close to them. However, this does not mean that exposure guarantees a diagnosis. 

Mental health diagnoses and mood shifts

To meet the criteria for major depressive episodes, symptoms have to be present for an extended period of time. In the field of clinical psychology, there is a distinction between mood shifts (occurring anywhere from hours to days) and diagnosable mental disorders (which typically occur for at least two weeks). While depression itself isn't contagious like a disease, some factors might go into causing a person to be at risk of influence.

Risk factors for being influenced by others

• A genetic predisposition to depression
• A history of mood disorders like depression, bipolar disorder, or substance use disorders
• Exposure to close relatives or others with depression as a child
• Current levels of excessive stress due to significant life events or changes
• Reassurance-seeking behaviors
• An anxious attachment style 
• Chronic health challenges 
• Past adverse events 

How to protect your own health and support others with depression 

If someone around you is experiencing depression, you may want to provide them with support and guidance. In addition, it can be helpful to prioritize your mental health and well-being.

Setting healthy boundaries

Preserving your well-being by taking space and setting boundaries can be essential. To establish boundaries, you may ask for personal space, limit phone calls and text messages, decline to discuss certain topics, and say no to unreasonable requests. 

Strengthening protective factors

Protective factors for mental health are individual choices that foster well-being and reduce your risk of developing depression and other challenging symptoms. You may strengthen protective factors in your life by: 

• Building positive social connections to foster a sense of connection and belonging.
• Engaging in exercise to increase serotonin in the brain, which can and reduce the risk of depression. 
• Practicing gratitude to shift focus towards positive aspects of relationships and daily life.
• Prioritizing activities you enjoy to get a sense of fulfillment each day.  
• Maintaining a healthy diet to protect against depression and other mental health conditions. 
• Attending a support group to learn from peers’ experiences and develop compassion. 
• Starting online therapy to receive compassionate support and learn coping strategies. 

Encouraging treatment and resources

Encouraging friends, family members, and peers with depression to seek support can also be beneficial. By taking care of their own health, they can be a happier version of themselves during shared activities, further benefiting those around them. Many online resources are available to support individual well-being. 

Getting help for depression and emotional strain

Statistics show that nearly one in ten adults in the United States has a depressive disorder. While lifestyle changes, managing external pressures, and practicing self-care can be beneficial, therapists can also offer support.

Therapy for individuals and couples

If you or someone you love is seeking professional guidance to cope with depression or another mental health issue, a therapist or counselor might be of benefit. The rise in popularity of online therapy has provided a solution to some of the barriers to treatment experienced by many people living with depression, such as difficulty leaving home or an urge to withdraw from social situations.  

Online therapy options

Platforms like BetterHelp match individuals with licensed online therapists experienced in treating depression and other mental health challenges. Online depression therapy may allow you to engage in sessions on your schedule from home or anywhere with an internet connection. Additionally, you can speak with a psychotherapist via phone, online message, or video chat.