There exists the hypothesis that realists are more likely to be depressed. It is tied to the concept of depressive realism, which is a psychological theory suggesting that people with mild depression may have a more accurate perception of reality, especially when it comes to their own abilities or the control they have over situations.

The theory contrasts with the optimism bias, where many non-depressed individuals tend to overestimate their abilities or the positivity of future outcomes.

Depressive realism was first proposed by psychologists Alloy and Abramson in the late 1970s. They conducted experiments that suggested lightly depressed individuals were more realistic about their capacity to control external events compared to non-depressed individuals, who were more likely to overrate their grasp.

However, while depressive realism indicates a more accurate view of certain aspects of reality, it does not necessarily imply that being more realistic inherently causes depression. Many factors contribute to depression, including genetics, brain chemistry, personality, and environmental factors.

Being a “realist” (having a more grounded or pragmatic view of the world) does not automatically lead to depression. Still, it could mean a person is less likely to think overly optimistically.

Whether this increases the risk of depression can depend on a range of other individual psychological factors. Some pragmatists may be more prone to existential concerns or feelings of hopelessness when they confront harsh realities, while others may find a sense of stability or comfort in seeing things “as they are.”

I would say that realism in and of itself isn’t a direct cause of depression. But for some people, a more grounded or less optimistic worldview may coincide with certain depressive tendencies. Some studies even show that depressed individuals can still suffer from a positive bias, although to a lesser degree than non-depressed people.