Teenagers can “catch” moods from their friends and negative moods appear to be more contagious than positive, a study has found. The study by Oxford and Birmingham universities investigates “emotional contagion” among teenagers, to see the impact of individuals’ moods within a shared social network. It found that moods become similar to those of the people they spend time with, but there is a tolerance of different moods, and grumpy teenagers are no less popular with their peers than those with a more sunny disposition. The research was based on two musical ensembles involving musicians aged 15-19 who took part in concert tours abroad. During the course of the tour in the summer of 2018, each of the 79 participants kept a diary recording daily moods and social interactions. One of the authors, Dr Per Block, of Oxford’s Leverhulme Centre for Demographic Science, said: “Our study shows conclusively that individuals are affected by how others around them are feeling. Mood is contagious, and though both positive and negative moods are ‘caught’, bad moods are more potent.” On the positive side, the study found that mood did not determine popularity, and though a teenager runs the risk of catching a friend’s bad mood, they can also influence them with their own more positive mood and lift them out of their misery. “We hope it is a step towards understanding why people fall into prolonged low states, the social factors that determine emotional wellbeing in adolescents, and, in the long run, how it may be possible to provide emotional support leading to improved mental health,” said Block. The findings contradict earlier research which has suggested that good mood is more contagious than bad, and that bad mood is associated with social withdrawal. This latest study showed no evidence that teenagers who feel low withdraw. Vivian Hill, vice-chair of the British Psychological Society’s Division for Educational and Child Psychology, said: “This is an important piece of research, using a fascinating methodology, at a time of increasing concern about the mental health needs of young people. “Current research looking at the mental health and mood states of children and young people suggests that the level of incidence of low mood states is much higher than was initially understood. Therefore, we need to be aware of mood contagion and make sure the right support and services is given to schools and communities, and offering help to adolescents who are experiencing negative mood states.” The emotional wellbeing of children and young adults is a source of major concern among health and education professionals, as the pandemic continues to disrupt learning and social contacts in the UK and across much of the world. Co-author Dr Stephanie Burnett Heyes, of the University of Birmingham’s School of Psychology, added: “This study raises so many outstanding questions, especially in Covid-19 times, such as: what do we lose when interaction is not face to face, and what is preserved? And finally, if everyone is struggling, is it too emotionally risky to connect with others and potentially ‘catch’ their low mood?” The study, Sharing the Load: Contagion and Tolerance of Mood in Social Networks, has been published by the American Psychological Association.