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

A meta-analysis of 40 findings from 36 studies (N = 4,952) provided substan tial 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 de pend on methodological approach, with strongest to weakest results in the f ollowing order: transcript studies, audio/ videotape studies, studies using actual strangers, studies using actual friends/acquaintances, and confeder ate studies. Contagion of depressed mood/symptoms held across combinations of target x respondent gender. There was very tentative evidence that conta gion was specific to depressive versus other symptom/moods. Based in part o n our meta-analytic findings, we summarize possible explanations of the phe nomenon from cognitive, behavioral, and interpersonal viewpoints and elucid ate some clinical implications.