“People aged 50 and older who see family and friends at least three times a week are about half as likely to develop depression as those who have such social encounters only every few months, according to a study published this week in the Journal of the American Geriatric Society.”Physicians ‘should consider encouraging face-to-face social interactions as preventive strategy for depression,’ the authors of the study conclude.

“The influence of social relationships on health has long intrigued researchers, and many previous studies have found an association between social isolation and depression, particularly among older populations.

“This new study, which was conducted by researchers from the University of Michigan and Portland State University in Oregon, looked at the topic from a slightly different angle. It examined whether the mode of social contact — meeting in person, talking on the telephone, or communicating through letter or e-mail — also made a difference in the risk of depression.”

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