High compassion for others may protect from depressive symptoms

What is it about?

We investigated the interplay of compassion and depressive symptoms from early adulthood to middle age. The sample included more than 1600 Finnish adults that were followed over 15 years. We found that high compassion was more likely to protect against depressive symptoms than vice versa (i.e. depressive symptoms seemed not to predict a decrease in disposition to feel compassion for others). Moreover, we found that high compassion predicted less frequent depressive symptoms (i.e. lower negative attitude, performance difficulties, and somatic complaints) in early adulthood but not thereafter. That is, the protective effect of compassion was evident in early adulthood but not anymore in middle age.

Featured Image

Why is it important?

The results suggest that compassion for others may protect against the onset and maintenance of depressive symptoms, especially in early adulthood. Commonly, treatments for depressive patients focus on analysing one's own thoughts and emotions. Importantly, our findings provide evidence that directing focus on others' suffering may be an effective way to prevent depressive symptoms. Moreover, high compassion may increase prosocial behavior and improve the quality of social networks and, in this way, to prevent the onset of depressive symptoms.