According to Coyne's (1976) Research on Emotional Contagion, What Is

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The Answer is According to Coyne's (1976) research on emotional contagion, one reason that communication with depressed people can be challenging is due to the phenomenon of interpersonal rejection. Coyne's "interpersonal theory of depression" suggests that depressed individuals often engage in behaviors that elicit rejection from others. These behaviors can include excessive reassurance-seeking, negativity, and a general tendency to focus on one's own distressing emotions and experiences.

When someone is depressed, they may exhibit certain communicative behaviors that can be emotionally draining or taxing for the listener. For example, they might repeatedly express their negative thoughts and feelings, seek reassurance about their worth or relationships, or respond to attempts at encouragement with continued pessimism. These behaviors can inadvertently lead to a cycle where the depressed person's need for social support and positive interaction is met with withdrawal or avoidance by others, which can then exacerbate the depressed person's feelings of isolation and rejection.

The challenge in communication arises because these behaviors can trigger a negative emotional response in the listener, known as emotional contagion, where the listener begins to experience similar negative emotions. This can make interactions with depressed individuals emotionally challenging and can lead to a decrease in the listener's own mood and an increase in their desire to avoid further interactions, thus potentially reinforcing the depressed individual's feelings of isolation and rejection.

According to Coyne's (1976) Research on Emotional Contagion, What Is

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