The social cost of depression: Investigating the impact of impaired social emotion regulation, social cognition, and interpersonal behavior on social functioning

Depressive disorders are often accompanied by severe and pervasive impairments in social functioning, surpassing those experienced by individuals with other chronic medical conditions. Inability to effectively navigate social situations, establish and maintain healthy relationships lead to significant social stress and isolation. Social cognitive performance has been found to be inversely correlated with depression severity, while negative emotional biases persist even in remission. These social dysfunctions may arise from maladaptive emotion regulation strategies and difficulties interpreting emotional stimuli and mental states. Our article reviews the extensive evidence supporting the notion that depression is primarily a social disorder, examining impairments in self-focused social cognition, other-focused social cognition, and interpersonal behavior. By demonstrating how deficits in these domains result in diminished social functioning, increased stress, and reduced quality of relationships, we underscore the importance of recognizing and addressing the social impact of depression.