Rogers, Julie-Anne (2017) Contagious Depression: A Significant Element in Caregiving Roles? A systematic literature review. Honours thesis, University of Southern Queensland. (Unpublished)
Abstract
Depression is a global crisis impacting on individuals and communities in large numbers worldwide. It is predicted that by 2030, depression will account for the highest level of disability in the world (WHO, 2017). The causes of depression have been well researched and include social factors. As a result, there is also evidence to support the phenomenon of depression being contagious or transferred to those who interact with the depressed person. Studies of the contagion effect among college roommates, dating couples, spousal relationships, and family members have produced significant results supporting the phenomenon. However, the role of depression being “caught” by caregivers of a depressed person has not been commonly explored. This research is a systematic literature review to identify research to date on the “contagious depression” phenomenon, and explore the effect on caregivers, including risk factors, vulnerabilities, protective factors, and treatment options. The review was conducted and references ascertained by searching the online USQ library database, University of Adelaide Library database, Google Scholar and by reviewing reference lists of literature included in the review. Findings indicate evidence of “contagious depression”, although there is a lack of identifiable studies that connect contagious depression specifically to caregivers. This review highlights the need to curb depression, its contagious effect, and further, identify protective factors and behaviours.
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| Item Type: | Thesis (Non-Research) (Honours) |
|---|---|
| Item Status: | Live Archive |
| Additional Information: | Current UniSQ staff and students can request access to this thesis. Please email research.repository@unisq.edu.au with a subject line of SEAR thesis request and provide: Name of the thesis requested and Your name and UniSQ email address |
| Faculty/School / Institute/Centre: | Historic - Faculty of Health, Engineering and Sciences - School of Psychology and Counselling (1 Jan 2015 - 31 Dec 2021) |
| Supervisors: | Leander Mitchell |
| Qualification: | Bachelor of Science (Honours) |
| Date Deposited: | 20 Aug 2025 23:29 |
| Last Modified: | 20 Aug 2025 23:29 |
| Uncontrolled Keywords: | Contagious, depression, contagious depression, contagion, transferable, carer, caregiver |
| Fields of Research (2008): | 17 Psychology and Cognitive Sciences > 1799 Other Psychology and Cognitive Sciences > 179999 Psychology and Cognitive Sciences not elsewhere classified |
| Fields of Research (2020): | 52 PSYCHOLOGY > 5299 Other psychology > 529999 Other psychology not elsewhere classified |
| URI: | https://sear.unisq.edu.au/id/eprint/52706 |
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