Seeing is better than just talking

A recent study of more than 11,000 people age 50 and older found that actually meeting very often (three or more times per week) lowered the likelihood of depression in these people. Those who met in person with family and friends once every few months or less were nearly twice as likely to be depressed two years later than those who met up very often. This was true even when others phoned or e-mailed frequently. The lead author of the study said, “the special result we get from this study is there’s a specific effect of meeting up with people that’s not explained by other factors. We looked at other forms of contact and other variables that could alternatively explain depression, but still found that in-person interaction has a potent benefit.”

People who met with family or friends three or more times a week had a 6.5 percent chance of reporting depressive symptoms two years later, while those who met up once every few months or less had an 11.5 percent risk. Those who fell in between had an intermediate risk: Seeing friends and family once or twice a week was linked to a 7.3 percent chance of subsequent depression, while in-person contact once or twice a month was linked to an 8.1 percent risk.