Heavy internet use leads to depression

[Dave200]

Heard this on the Radio 2 news this morning, and the amateur psychologist/sociologist in me decided to do a bit of digging around. Surprisingly, this seems to have been covered in quite some depth in scientific journals/studies, especially where young people are concerned.
On another thread, I've spoken out frequently about how I feel that heavy internet use doesn't aid the development of social skills - but this is a quite different story altogether!

What's PH's take on this?

[bonsai]

Do they count Webinars in this?

[Dave200]

bonsai said:

Do they count Webinars in this?

It wasn't mentioned specifically.

[craggers]

Yeah I am feeling depressed whilst on PH forum especially when seeing peoples buying their super/sport car !!

[rudecherub]

first instinct is this is the same sort of study that proves Speed Camera's save lives.

My own guess is that if you are a socially isolated teen, or have emotional health issues the internet is a place you are going to go to - to spend time on, in other words I'm more inclined to believe that depressives are more likely to use the internet heavily.

[ShadownINja]

What are they doing on the internet? It could be anything from browsing Emo forums to listening to Magic FM on the internet.

My internet experience has been largely enriching as it has helped with "real life" in many ways.

[ShadownINja]

rudecherub said:

My own guess is that if you are a socially isolated teen, or have emotional health issues the internet is a place you are going to go to - to spend time on, in other words I'm more inclined to believe that depressives are more likely to use the internet heavily.

Yep. This is what I was thinking, too. "People with intestines use the internet. A recent scientific study found that 100% of internet users had intestines."

[Fume troll]

http://archpedi.ama-assn.org/cgi/content/full/2010...

What is not clear is: Did they use the internet because they were depressed, or were they depressed because they used the internet?

It's entirely possible that the sort of person who would get addicted to the internet is the sort of person who might suffer from depression / anxiety. Correlation is not causation.

Cheers,

FT.

[Dave200]

Fume troll said:

http://archpedi.ama-assn.org/cgi/content/full/2010...

What is not clear is: Did they use the internet because they were depressed, or were they depressed because they used the internet?

It's entirely possible that the sort of person who would get addicted to the internet is the sort of person who might suffer from depression / anxiety. Correlation is not causation.

Cheers,

FT.

Very true, and a salient point. However, would you consider it possible that the internet is not necessarily a good place for depressive/dissociative individuals to be spending large amounts of time?

[ShadownINja]

Well, if they legalised it, it'd put criminals out of business AND generate taxes for the government. Oh, wait, wrong thread.

[Fume troll]

Dave200 said:

Fume troll said:

http://archpedi.ama-assn.org/cgi/content/full/2010...

What is not clear is: Did they use the internet because they were depressed, or were they depressed because they used the internet?

It's entirely possible that the sort of person who would get addicted to the internet is the sort of person who might suffer from depression / anxiety. Correlation is not causation.

Cheers,

FT.

Very true, and a salient point. However, would you consider it possible that the internet is not necessarily a good place for depressive/dissociative individuals to be spending large amounts of time?

Definitely.

Cheers,

FT.

[Deva Link]

ShadownINja said:

My internet experience has been largely enriching as it has helped with "real life" in many ways.

I thought this was real life. I'm starting to feel depressed.

[ShadownINja]

Deva Link said:

ShadownINja said:

My internet experience has been largely enriching as it has helped with "real life" in many ways.

I thought this was real life. I'm starting to feel depressed.

Do you have a history of mental illness or general depression? Are you a social outcast? Come, sit on my couch and tell me about your childhood.

[Deva Link]

ShadownINja said:

Deva Link said:

ShadownINja said:

My internet experience has been largely enriching as it has helped with "real life" in many ways.

I thought this was real life. I'm starting to feel depressed.

Do you have a history of mental illness or general depression? Are you a social outcast? Come, sit on my couch and tell me about your childhood.

I think it's working from home that's done for me.

[ShadownINja]

Deva Link said:

ShadownINja said:

Deva Link said:

ShadownINja said:

My internet experience has been largely enriching as it has helped with "real life" in many ways.

I thought this was real life. I'm starting to feel depressed.

Do you have a history of mental illness or general depression? Are you a social outcast? Come, sit on my couch and tell me about your childhood.

I think it's working from home that's done for me.

I see you put on a brave, happy face but I understand. *scribbles* Here's a prescription for 500 pills. You'll feel better in the morning. (But you might have a slight addiction problem.)

[Deva Link]

ShadownINja said:

I see you put on a brave, happy face but I understand. *scribbles* Here's a prescription for 500 pills. You'll feel better in the morning. (But you might have a slight addiction problem.)

Thank you Doctor.

[ShadownINja]

<coff>