People with depression could see their condition improve if they adopt an upright posture.

That was the conclusion of a study by researchers at the University of Auckland, due for publication in the March issue of the Journal of Behavior Therapy and Experimental Psychiatry.

While previous studies have found that that sitting or standing up straight improves self-esteem and mood in healthy people, the new study sought to investigate whether people with mild-to-moderate depression would also experience a benefit.

Study co-author Elizabeth Broadent said: "Compared to sitting in a slumped position, sitting upright can make you feel more proud after a success, increase your persistence at an unsolvable task, and make you feel more confident in your thoughts.

"Research also suggests that sitting upright can make you feel more alert and enthusiastic, feel less fearful, and have higher self-esteem after a stressful task.”

The new study involved 61 participants with mild-to-moderate depression on a screening test, who were assigned to either an upright-posture group or a usual-posture group.

Those in the former were instructed to straighten their backs, level their shoulders, then think about stretching the tops of their heads toward the ceiling while drawing their shoulder blades down and together. Tape was placed on their backs to help them maintain this position.