Philipp Kanske on stress and depression in relationships at Deutschlandfunk Nova

Depression and Stress Can Affect Those Around Us

In a recent interview with Deutschlandfunk Nova, Prof. Philipp Kanske from TU Dresden discusses how psychological distress—particularly depression—can affect people within our social environment. Research suggests that mental health problems occur more frequently in certain social contexts, such as school classes and workplaces. One possible explanation is the transmission of stress: through empathy and close social relationships, we may unconsciously experience and share the stress of people around us.

Prof. Kanske is currently investigating these processes in couples, including whether mindfulness and relaxation training can help prevent excessive stress from being passed between partners. The research could contribute to a better understanding of how social interactions influence mental health and how preventive strategies might reduce the risk of depression. The full podcast is available from Deutschlandfunk Nova.