Too Much Internet Use May Cause Depression

Thought this was an interesting study:

Is it possible the use of the Internet can lead to depression? According to recent research, those individuals who spend a considerable amount of time browsing the Internet are more likely to show depressive symptoms. These findings were recently summarized in a Science Daily release and were part of the first large-scale study of its kind in the West by University of Leeds psychologists.

When conducting this study, researchers found evidence that some Internet users had developed a compulsive habit and were increasingly replacing real-life social interaction with online chat rooms and social networking sites. This trend suggests this type of addictive surfing can have a serious impact on an individual’s mental health.

Lead author Dr. Catriona Morrison said: “The internet now plays a huge part in modern life, but its benefits are accompanied by a darker side. While many of us use the internet to pay bills, shop and send emails, there is a small subset of the population who find it hard to control how much time they spend online, to the point where it interferes with their daily activities.”

Internet addicts – as they are called – spend a disproportionate amount of time browsing sexually gratifying websites, online gaming sites and online communities. In addition, they have a higher incidence of moderate to severe depression than non-addicted users.

“Our research indicates that excessive internet use is associated with depression, but what we don’t know is which comes first — are depressed people drawn to the internet or does the internet cause depression? What is clear, is that for a small subset of people, excessive use of the internet could be a warning signal for depressive tendencies.”

Morrison highlighted that this study reinforces the public speculation that over-engaging in websites that serve to replace normal social function could easily be linked to psychological disorders like depression and addiction.