Reference: Gallagher, S., Howard, S., McMahon, J, & Palmieri, C. (2023). Christmas cards: are senders full of joy and good cheer? Cogent Psychology, 10 (1), 1-7. https://doi.org/10.1080/23311908.2022.2151727 Did you know that people with depression often struggle during the holidays or on religious days? Even though the holiday or season is festive with decorations, parties, and social activities, some people experience the holiday blues and thus remember losses. Psychologists asked, “Are higher levels of depressive symptoms associated with how often people send cards on religious holidays?” United Kingdom researchers analyzed data already collected from a larger UK study finding over 2,400 participants who said they had some religious affiliation, Christian – (Anglican, Roman Catholic, Presbyterian, Baptist, Methodist) and Hindu, Muslim, Jewish, Sikh, Buddhist. All reported how often their family sent holiday cards. Results? Depressed individuals were more likely to "never" send cards, while non-depressed individuals were more likely to "always" send them. This pattern was evident only among Christians, not among non-Christians or the non-religious. For Christians, the level of depression may indicate how often a person sends Christmas cards. Especially for those who have regularly sent cards or those friends who don’t, reach out to them! You may be able to help them have a “merry” instead of a “blue” Christmas.

Written by Kristin M. Harris, Ph.D.