Here’s reason #68743 to stop scrolling through Instagram while Snapchatting your lunch, and go outside and actually interact with a real human, face to face: A new study has revealed that a lack of in-person social interaction directly correlates to an increased risk of depression down the line.

New research published in The Journal of the American Geriatrics Society looked at a group of 11,000 adults aged 50 , and what they learned about the mental health boost of face to face human contact is fascinating: The folks who reported the lowest level of social interaction with friends and family (like less than once every few months) had an 11.5 percent likelihood of being depressed to years later. Compare that to the people who had the highest level (multiple times a week), who only had a 6.5 percent chance of developing depressive symptoms. 

But wait, you might say: I maybe don’t meet up with my friends for dinner as much as I used to (my work hours are crazy!), but we email all the time and even sometimes talk on the phone.

First, that sucks about your job, and two, the study from the Oregon Health & Science University shows that while those digital efforts are nice, they actually don’t make much of a difference. 

Moral of the story? Put the phone and go do something with your bestie.

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