When empathy feels scarce: How zero-sum beliefs fuel depression in close relationships

Key Points

• Higher depression levels arise in individuals holding zero-sum beliefs—showing a link between mindset and mental health.
• Key metrics reveal that stronger beliefs in scarce empathy directly correlate with increased depressive symptoms.
• Analysis of relationships highlights the impact of zero-sum beliefs on emotional exchanges and psychological well-being.
• Findings support the idea that addressing zero-sum beliefs could improve mental health in intimate connections.