Web Surfers Have More Depression
February 4, 2010 / 9:30 am • By Dr. Melissa ClouthierHmmmmm……
A “dark side” to the internet suggests a strong link between time spent surfing the web and depression, say psychologists.
British scientists found that the longer people spent online, the less likely they were to be happy.A small group of the worst affected individuals were both depressed and addicted.
But it was not clear whether using the internet causes mental health problems, or whether people with mental health problems are drawn to the internet.
More work is needed to answer this “chicken and egg” question, say the researchers.
Well, if a person tends to be a solitary person, he might enjoy hanging on the internet. But then, he does self-reinforcing things, like look at porn, and gets stuck behind his desk even more. Then, he is kinda addicted..he exercises less, gets less natural sunlight, interacts with real people less and it becomes a vicious cycle.
Or, the person starts depressed and the internet doesn’t force human interaction or exertion.
I don’t think there is one cause here, but it does seem to be a risk for introverted people.
3 Responses to “Web Surfers Have More Depression”
February 4 2010 / 12:10 pm
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You probably have it right. As an introvert, I was a bookworm before there was an internet. The internet facilitates (or can if I choose) my predilection to get lost in book/information. The difference being that the internet gives you more access.
I’m certainly not more depressed than I was in my earlier life, quite the opposite. But I think that is due to other life factors. However, if I were still living at home with no job, no ’significant other’, and no kids…
February 5 2010 / 7:21 pm
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As they say in the stats biz, “Correlation does not prove causation.”
Are people who spend a lot of time on the Net more depressed? Do people who are depressed spend more time on the Net?
February 6 2010 / 7:04 pm
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This bit of news really brings me down.