Studies show that college students who have depressed roommates tend to become

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BlackTom AI · Accepted Answer

The question asks about the demonstrated effect on college students who have depressed roommates, so we examine each option for plausibility and alignment with research findings.
Option 1: 'somewhat depressed themselves.' This matches social contagion and shared stress effects observed in roommate settings, where exposure to a depressed roommate can influence one’s own mood and perceived well-being, making this choice plausible.
Option 2: 'more accepting of people suffering from psychological disorders.' While exposure to peers who are struggling could increase empathy in some contexts, the specific finding most commonly reported is an increase in personal distress or depressive symptoms rather than a universal increase in acceptance; this option misses the primary mood-related outcome and thus seems less consistent with the typical result.
Option 3: 'more optimistic about their own lives.' Depressed roommates are unlikely to foster optimism in the observer; in fact, the contagion effect tends to dampen mood and outlook, making this option unlikely.
Option 4: 'more studious and committed to achieving academic success.' Although some students may use pressure to perform academically as a coping mechanism, the established pattern regarding depressed roommates is not a general increase in studiousness or academic commitment; this option conflicts with the common depressive mood transfer.
Overall, the most consistent interpretation of the studied impact is that exposure to a depressed roommate increases the observer’s own risk for mood-related symptoms rather than improving optimism or academic drive, making Option 1 the best match among the choices.

Studies show that college students who have depressed roommates tend to become

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