Reducing TV Time in Middle Age May Improve Mental Health

A recent study published in European Psychiatry suggests that cutting back on television viewing and replacing that time with physical activities or sleep can significantly decrease the risk of developing major depression in middle-aged adults. Conducted by researchers from the University of Groningen as part of the Lifelines cohort study, the research found that reallocating just 60 minutes of TV time to other activities reduced depression likelihood by 11%. Longer reallocations of 90 or 120 minutes increased this protective effect to nearly 26%. The greatest benefits were observed when TV time was replaced with physical activities like sports, which led to the largest reductions in depression risk.

The study highlights that middle-aged adults particularly benefit from reducing their screen time, with an 18.78% decrease in depression risk when shifting 60 minutes from TV to other activities, and up to a 43% reduction with 120 minutes of reallocation. Specific activities such as sports showed a notable protective effect, whereas simpler household activities did not yield significant mental health benefits. Interestingly, the effects in older adults and young adults were less evident; in older adults, only replacing TV with sports showed a marked decrease, and in young adults, reallocation did not significantly influence depression risk, possibly due to already higher activity levels.

Participants self-reported their daily time spent in various activities, including active commuting, recreation, sports, household chores, work or school-related physical activities, TV watching, and sleep. The Mini International Neuropsychiatric Interview was used to assess depression onset over four years.

This research underscores the importance of balancing screen time with physical activity and sleep to promote mental health, especially during middle age. Strategies to reduce sedentary behaviors and increase active pursuits could serve as effective preventative measures against depression.

source: https://medicalxpress.com/news/2025-09-tv-ticket-mental-health-middle.html