London, Dec 17 (ANI): Men who take the time to engage in cultural activities or artistic pursuits are less likely to suffer from depression, says a new study.

The study, by the Norwegian University of Science and Technology, included 50,000 people, reports The Telegraph.

Professor Jostein Holmen, one of the researchers at the university said there was a “positive relationship” between cultural participation and happiness for both sexes.

He added: “For men, there is also a positive relationship between cultural participation and depression, in that there is less depression among men who participate in cultural activities, although this is not true for women.

“The association between health and cultural activities was not strong enough to say that culture actually makes people healthy.

“But the findings ought to challenge politicians to think differently about health.”

Mark Tyrrell, a psychology trainer and writer, said: “Playing music or listening to music can mean that people are involved in a community and it fills that need.

“Exercise can be more effective than clinical depression medicines. Depression can spread like the flu in winter.

“There are more calls to the police for domestic violence around Christmas.” (ANI)