Shifting This One Simple Habit Could Cut Depression Risk

Quit the Binge: Next time you’re craving a Netflix marathon, you might want to hold off — or at least shorten your binge a bit. Adults who decrease their TV time by at least one hour and replace it with other activities can significantly reduce their risk of depression, according to new research from Erasmus MC in the Netherlands. 

The Study: Researchers collected data from 65,454 non-depressed Dutch adults in a prospective cohort study and followed up four years later. Those who swapped one hour of their TV time with another activity had an 11% reduction in overall depression risk. The most pronounced benefits were in participants ages 40 to 64. Those who shaved off 90 or 120 minutes of TV had depression-risk reductions of 29% and 43%, respectively.

The Takeaway: Swapping TV for sports or exercise provided the biggest benefit. Sleep, social activities, and leisure pursuits, like reading, also helped. The findings are particularly relevant for middle-aged adults — many of whom might already be coping with stress from work and family, along with poor sleep and sedentary jobs. 

Keep in Mind: The data was correlative and self-reported, but it does underscore the known association between sedentary lifestyles, screen time, and mental health.