Link Between Excessive Internet Use And Depression

TTL Bot · 02-03-2010, 01:11 PM

People who spend a lot of time browsing the net are more likely to show depressive symptoms, according to the first large-scale study of its kind in the West by University of Leeds psychologists. Researchers found striking evidence that some users have developed a compulsive internet habit, whereby they replace real-life social interaction with online chat rooms and social networking sites... (Source: Depression News From Medical News Today)

billy boy · 02-03-2010, 03:24 PM

Wow, that's gonna inspire people to keep posting here isn't it?

lost hope · 02-03-2010, 03:32 PM

I agree with what it's saying though, although it also said that they don't know if it actually causes depression or depressed people use the internet more and i tend towards the latter.

billy boy · 02-03-2010, 04:32 PM

Well, I was joking.... Kinda

In all seriousness, it does make sense and doesn't surprise me too much. I just found it kinda funny.

kajatana · 02-07-2010, 05:52 PM

I've read this, and thought it was a tad misleading. I think the internet CAN be depressing, but that really depends on what you're searching for.

Last week, I stupidly went to self-help, and q&a websites searching for answers. None of this helped because I wasn't ready for it. I'm not ready to face the help side. Sure I NEED help, but I can't help myself that way right now. So those sites just ending up depressing me more. I need to not think of any relationship right now, or why it ended. I just need to focus on getting myself to a certain good point where I can THEN deal with it.

So once I realised what I was doing (keeping myself in the depressive state, instead of giving myself good moments) I decided on looking at happy websites like theonion.com or failblog.org and LAUGHING. This helped.

And now that I'm here, well, this certainly helps talking about it, but in a good way. Not putting yourself on a path you're not ready to walk yet.

So yeah, whilst I agree with it, I also disagree.

Endless Whinging · 02-08-2010, 11:47 PM

chicken or egg?

Wings · 02-09-2010, 08:17 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Endless Whinging

chicken or egg?

This.

"People who spend a lot of time browsing the net are more likely to show depressive symptoms.."
People who are depressed are generally more likely to spend too much time on the internet...

lost hope · 02-09-2010, 10:27 AM

I suppose it's like most addictions, for instance alcoholism-depressed people turn to drink and drinking too much can make depression worse. The internet is just another escape out of emotional pain, but like other addictions it only masks the pain for a short while and that's why we keeping needing it more. Don't get me wrong i'm not anti-internet or anything, it has it's uses some positive but also some negative as the report also points out. More research needs to be done and discussions on why when we're depressed we have such a strong need to feel connected without actually being around others if that makes sense. I have read somewhere that a lack of social connection and support which is more common now than ever actually contributes to the high percentage of depressed peolpe.