Sending Christmas cards reduces symptoms of depression

New research shows that sending Christmas cards is associated with a reduction in symptoms of depression. A new study has found that depressed people are less likely to send Christmas cards than non-depressed people. The study was conducted by researchers at the University of Limerick in Ireland. The study found that around 55% of non-depressed people said they "always" send Christmas cards. In comparison, only 46% of people with depression send Christmas cards. "Many of the behavioral characteristics of people with depression are well known, but this is the first time we have shown that a Christmas behavior, namely sending Christmas cards, is also affected," says Professor Stephen Gallagher. The results were published in the journal Cogent Psychology.