Contagion of depressive symptoms and mood: Meta-analytic review and explanations from cognitive, behavioral, and interpersonal viewpoints.

Abstract

A meta‐analysis of 40 findings from 36 studies (N= 4,952) provided substantial overall support for the proposition that depressive symptoms and mood are contagious. Contagion appeared most pronounced in studies of depressive symptoms (vs. depressive mood). Contagion of depressive mood appears to depend on methodological approach, with strongest to weakest results in the following order: transcript studies, audio/ videotape studies, studies using actual strangers, studies using actual friends/acquaintances, and confederate studies. Contagion of depressed mood/symptoms held across combinations of target × respondent gender. There was very tentative evidence that contagion was specific to depressive versus other symptom/moods. Based in part on our meta‐analytic findings, we summarize possible explanations of the phenomenon from cognitive, behavioral, and interpersonal viewpoints and elucidate some clinical implications.

Is Depression Contagious? A Test of Alternative Peer Socialization Mechanisms of Depressive Symptoms in Adolescent Peer Networks

“…As previous empirical evidence of contagion of depres- sion stems mainly from experimental studies among adults [15], and our study is among the first to test this assertion in adolescent peer networks. Our results do not support interpersonal models describing the socialization of depression primarily as a contagion.…”

“…Finally, we did not find evidence that gender or reciprocity moderated socialization effects. Although interactions have been reported elsewhere [16], we are not the first to fail to confirm their existence [15].…”

“…Interpersonal models of depression suggest that depressed adolescents induce negative affects in their interaction partners [6,7,15]. As previous empirical evidence of contagion of depres- sion stems mainly from experimental studies among adults [15], and our study is among the first to test this assertion in adolescent peer networks.…”

“…Adults interacting with depressed individuals in a laboratory setting reported decreases in positive and increases in negative affects [15]. Longitudinal correlational studies (some including adolescents) indicate that partner's initial level of depressive affect is positively associated with changes in peers' subsequent level of depressive affect [4,8,9].…”

The Relationship: How It Works

“…There is evidence of the contagiousness of certain moods, such as depression. In a meta-analysis with over 4,900 participants, depressive mood and symptoms were shown to be highly contagious, especially in studies with confederates and actual friends and acquaintances (Joiner and Katz 1999). Regarding positive mood, Hill et al report data from the Framingham Heart Study, indicating that each content contact with another individual increases the probability of an individual becoming more content by 11 %; conversely, each discontent contact increased the likelihood of becoming discontented by 100 % per year.…”