[quote=The Guardian]British psychologists have found evidence of a link between excessive internet use and depression, research published today has shown.
Leeds University researchers, writing in the Psychopathology journal (abstract here – subscription required for full pdf), said a small proportion of internet users were classed as internet addicts and that people in this group were more likely to be depressed than non-addicted users.
The article on the relationship between excessive internet use and depression, a questionnaire-based study of 1,319 young people and adults, used data compiled from respondents to links placed on UK-based social networking sites.
The respondents answered questions about how much time they spent on the internet and what they used it for; they also completed the Beck Depression Inventory – a series of questions designed to measure the severity of depression.
The report, by the university's Institute of Psychological Sciences, said 18 of the people who completed the questionnaire – 1.4% of the total – were internet addicts.
"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?" the article's lead author, Dr Catriona Morrison, said.
"What is clear is that, for a small subset of people, excessive use of the internet could be a warning signal for depressive tendencies."
The age range of all respondents was between 16 and 51 years, with a mean age of 21.24. The mean age of the 18 internet addicts, 13 of whom were male and five female, was 18.3 years.
By comparing the scale of depression within this group to that within a group of 18 non-addicted internet users – again of a mean age of 18.3 years and made up of 13 males and five females – researchers found the internet addicts had a higher incidence of moderate to severe depression than non-addicts.
They also discovered that addicts spent proportionately more time browsing sexually gratifying websites, online gaming sites and online communities.
"This study reinforces the public speculation that over-engaging in websites that serve to replace normal social function might be linked to psychological disorders like depression and addiction," Morrison said.
"We now need to consider the wider societal implications of this relationship and establish clearly the effects of excessive internet use on mental health."
The six-page report is the first larger-scale study of young western people to consider the relationship between internet addiction and depression.
Much of the previous research into the subject has been carried out in east Asia.[/quote]
source: [url]http://www.guardian.co.uk/technology/2010/feb/03/excessive-internet-use-depression[/url]
Who'd have thought??
[editline]04:01PM[/editline]
[b]They also discovered that addicts spent proportionately more time browsing sexually gratifying websites, online gaming sites and online communities.[/b]
phew well at least facepunchers are safe
O man I'm so depressed!
Im sorry but it just had to be said. No shit sherlock?
brb, slicing off my hands.
[b]EDIT:[/b]
IRTGS HARD TO TYEP WITH TWEO BONEWS AS HANDS
Depressing news =/
[quote]"This study reinforces the public speculation that over-engaging in websites that serve to replace normal social function might be linked to psychological disorders like depression and addiction," Morrison said.[/quote]
But they have it the wrong way around!
Depressed people are probably depressed because they're lonely or because they don't like themselves. If you're lonely and don't like yourself, you're probably going to spend more time indoors, and then if you're indoors all the time you'll probably wind up on the internet. Hence depressed people tend to use the internet more!
Hm...on rereading the article it seems they've sort of conceded that but still - 1,319? I think a larger sample size is required.
They need to do a bigger sample. My high school is nearly 2000 teenagers, I'm sure that would alter the results a bit.
Then again, a school full of mentally ill white faux-ghetto kids, potheads, and scene chicks might not be the best population to study.
[QUOTE=Splurgy;20005844]But they have it the wrong way around!
Depressed people are probably depressed because they're lonely or because they don't like themselves. If you're lonely and don't like yourself, you're probably going to spend more time indoors, and then if you're indoors all the time you'll probably wind up on the internet. Hence depressed people tend to use the internet more!
Hm...on rereading the article it seems they've sort of conceded that but still - 1,319? I think a larger sample size is required.[/QUOTE]
To be fair I can see how spending all day on Second Life for example can lead to psychological damage
Lets face it, none of use would be here if our lives were happy, fulfilling, and busy.
[QUOTE=Void Skull;20005976]They need to do a bigger sample. My high school is nearly 2000 teenagers, I'm sure that would alter the results a bit.
Then again, a school full of mentally ill white faux-ghetto kids, potheads, and scene chicks might not be the best population to study.[/QUOTE]
You're a Ghetto kid/Pothead/Scene Chick??!?!
What's with all these useless "studies" that discover the obvious? Jesus, you think we'd have better stuff to research.
I guess if I got my ass of this computer I could accomplish much more in life but when I'm using it I feel that humanity has accomplished the best invention since the wheel.
[QUOTE=James*;20005747][B]They also discovered that addicts spent proportionately more time browsing sexually gratifying websites, online gaming sites and online communities[/B][/QUOTE]
You mean the whole internet?
[QUOTE=James*;20006064]To be fair I can see how spending all day on Second Life for example can lead to psychological damage[/QUOTE]
Yeah, but if you have a healthy social life, motivation to do homework and a loving family you probably don't have time to spend all day on Second Life. Maybe it's a positive feedback mechanism?
[QUOTE=Pascall;20006168]What's with all these useless "studies" that discover the obvious? Jesus, you think we'd have better stuff to research.[/QUOTE]
You're not allowed to say "Oh, well I think that x causes y" without doing stupid studies because sometimes stupid studies disprove folk wisdom.
[QUOTE=Pascall;20006168]What's with all these useless "studies" that discover the obvious? Jesus, you think we'd have better stuff to research.[/QUOTE]
You can't base studies, medicine and research on guesses and stereotypes.
nice to see funding is being spent on such intriguing and bewildering research
[QUOTE=gazzy_GUI;20006415][img]http://nooneisreadingthis.files.wordpress.com/2009/03/marvin_the_robot.jpg[/img]
Don't kill me.[/QUOTE]
most of fp won't even get this
I know, my pun went to waste. :frown:
I'd rather say that Depression is linked to excessive internet use, but whatever
[QUOTE=EnenehV2;20007746]nice to see funding is being spent on such intriguing and bewildering research
most of fp won't even get this[/QUOTE]
Most of fp will recognize it if they're shown the more recent look:
[IMG]http://www.technovelgy.com/graphics/content07/gm-robot-marvin.jpg[/IMG]
[QUOTE=EnenehV2;20007746]nice to see funding is being spent on such intriguing and bewildering research
most of fp won't even get this[/QUOTE]
Even if I hadn't seen the old Marvin before, the motivator and triangle eyes would more than give it away.
basically what happened when i came in this thread:
[B]"British-"[/B]
this article isn't credible
[QUOTE=Kung Fu Jew;20008200]basically what happened when i came in this thread:
[B]"British-"[/B]
this article isn't credible[/QUOTE]
It's a shame we have so many of the top universities then
:cawg:
Did they study World of Warcraft community?
So the scientists finally added 2 and 2 together. Jesus and they get paid HOW much to be so stupid? Where's my money at?
That explains a lot.
To be honest I'm much happier when I've spent the day out with friends and just going online for a bit in the evening than if I've spent all day indoors not really doing anything other than surfing the web.
[QUOTE=James*;20005747][b]They also discovered that addicts spent proportionately more time browsing sexually gratifying websites, online gaming sites and online communities.[/b][/QUOTE]
Facepunch depresses me, I'm suing Garry!
Just kidding, Garry's cool. If not for Facepunch I'd be somewhere less cool.
[QUOTE=EnenehV2;20007746]
most of fp won't even get this[/QUOTE]
I get it and I'm 14.
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