Depression

Does the Type of Socialization Impact the Risk of Depression in Elder Adults?

Face-to-face interaction 3 times a week—as compared to digital communication and phone calls—resulted in a low 6.5% chance of depressive symptoms 2 years later. Furthermore, the type of individual mattered.

For the study, researchers analyzed data from 11,000 adults age 50 and older in the United States who participated in the Health and Retirement Study at the University of Michigan between 2004 and 2010. They looked at frequency of in-person, telephone, and written social contact (including email) as compared to the risk of depressive symptoms 2 years later, after adjusting for confounding factors including health status, proximity to family, and preexisting depression.

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The data showed that having little face-to-face social interaction doubles the risk of depression 2 years later. They also noted that the frequency of phone conversations or written correspondence had no effect on depression.

Participants who met in person with family or friends at least 3 times a week had the lowest level of depressive symptoms (6.5%) 2 years later. Individuals who met with friends and family less frequently (ie, once every few months) had a 11.5% chance of depressive symptoms.

Among adults age 50 to 69, frequent in-person interaction with friends reduced subsequent depression. Adults age 70 and older benefited the most from in-person contact with children and other family members.

Researchers concluded that the frequency of in-person social contact with friends and family independently predicts the risk of subsequent depression in older adults and clinicians should encourage face-to-face social interactions as a preventive strategy for depression.1

“Research has long supported the idea that strong social bonds strengthen people’s mental health. But this is the first look at the role that the type of communication with loved ones and friends plays in safeguarding people from depression,” said Alan Teo, MD, MS, lead author and assistant professor of psychiatry at Oregon Health & Science University, and researcher at the VA Portland Health Care System.2

The complete study is published in the Journal of the American Geriatrics Society.

References:

  1. Teo A, Choi H, Andrea S, et al. Does mode of contact with different types of social relationships predict depression in older adults? Evidence from a nationally representative survey. J Am Geriatrics Soc. 2015 Oct 6 [epub ahead of print].
  2. Oregon Health & Science University. Research: Face-to-face socializing more powerful than phone calls, emails in guarding against depression in older adults [press release]. October 5, 2015. www.ohsu.edu/xd/about/news_events/news/2015/10-05-research-face-to-face-s.cfm. Accessed October 7, 2015.