Too much time online linked with depression risk

Fueling the debate over the existence of internet addiction, and new study from researchers at the University of Leeds finds that people who compulsively browse, chat and play online have higher rates of moderate to severe depression than people who aren’t compulsively driven to use the internet. Additionally, people with addictive tendencies toward internet use were more likely to spend proportionately more time on sites featuring sexually gratifying content, gaming or social networking. As with previous research on addictive internet and video game use, researchers said that it wasn’t clear which came first in the apparent link between compulsive internet use and depression—that is, are people more likely to be depressed because they spend too much time on the internet, or is whiling away hours online a common hobby of people who are depressed?

The study, which will be published in the journal Psychopathology, assessed more than 1,300 people between the ages of 16 to 51 for both internet use and depressive symptoms. The researchers found that, 1.2% of study participants showed signs of addiction. The findings prompted the researchers to call for more investigation into the relationship between excessive internet use and mental health problems.

braktalk88

WOW! Here’s a new one.

Researchers may want to apply their studies to sociopaths who have harnessed the internet…
http://trueslant.com/toddessig/2010/02/03/media-hysteria-is-what-links-the-internet-to-depression/ Media hysteria is what links the Internet to depression – Todd Essig – Simu-Nation – True/Slant

[...] use to depression,” Time magazine’s Health & Science blog trumpets “Too much time online linked with depression risk,” and the Daily Mail repeats the BBC headline while the UK Press Association opts for the [...]
http://www.tangledsynapses.com tangledsynapses

The depressed resort to the internet a s mechanism to palliate his misery somehow, somewhat, but the Internet by itself could not the the culprit for depression. Depression is a tough disorder to deal with. Exercise, meditation, good lifestyle habits and the right medication would be good sources to be tapped into the fight against depression.
lumadaylight

Internet addiction is a reality in my opinion. Addiction is defined as being abnormally tolerant to and dependent on something that is psychologically or physically habit-forming. Thus, way way too much time on the internet all day every day can raise a few questions. Many things evolve and various outlets for addiction are present. Drugs and Alcohol have been around for a while and addictions towards these substances too have been around for a while. Internet is pretty new when talking about decades at at time. So addiction to the internet is fairly novel as well. Its easily accessible for many and addiction is not out of the question. Internet addiction is a huge epidemic right now in China. There are summer camps for young teens geared towards helping them reduce their internet intake. I really do not think people would waste their times establishing summer camps centered on helping internet addictions if it were not a problem. The computer and internet are used by one person sitting in front of the screen. This one potentially lonely depressed human could spend all of their time on the internet as a outlet from the real world. It is easy to get lost on the internet consuming much of one’s time just like it is easy to get lost with drugs or alcohol as an escape from reality.
troubledteenagers

According to the recent study done by researchers it has been analyzed that kids and teens that spend long time of internet are more likely to be affected from severe depression, stress and anxiety like problems. Compulsive internet use makes the teenagers web addicted. There are many residential treatment centers dedicated to help internet addicted kids to overcome stressing issues. Counseling programs and proper supervision support children to achieve balanced life. The other negative aspect of extreme internet addiction is that adolescents become family and socially isolated and like to spend time alone on computer.