An interesting new study was published earlier this week about “Internet addiction.” Unlike many previous studies on this hypothesized disorder, this one actually took measurements at two different points in time to try and tease out the possibility that “Internet addiction” can cause mental health problems, like depression or anxiety.
Can we show that simply using the Internet causes depression? Researchers set to find out on Chinese teens.
Psychologist Lawrence Lam and his colleague studied 1,041 Chinese teens, mostly ages 13 to 16, who had no signs of depression at the onset of the study. Some of the group, however, had moderate to severe pathological use of the Internet (64 of the subjects).
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It could also be that depression is often accompanied by a schizoid withdrawal, in this case conveniently provided by the internet. Use of the internet could be a more culturally-accepted way of justifying withdrawal from social interaction. Staying up late while using the internet could physically prevent a depressed person from joining social activities during the day.
I will give you some credit, you do post on these stories, albeit you then refute the findings with what I find to be picky challenges at times. As I always state to you in my responses, it has the appearance that your livelihood could be at stake if there is a disorder that can be called “Internet addiction”, that is really just a dependency problem iin general that involves internet use as the example. So, as far as I am concerned, until proven otherwise you are as biased and unobjective as some of your past criticisms aimed at the authors of these reports.
Overreliance on technology has its dark side. You have said that in some form in the past, but, you are quick to attack this topic. Perhaps, while you might be repeating yourself as possibly said at prior posts, you can remind readers how much this site supports your financial needs, or doesn’t. It would, to me at least, be a sign of good faith your are educating the public first, not just protecting your pocket first.
By the way, met another patient recently who said in so many words, “I am addicted to the internet, but how can I stop when so much of my needs are from it?” Hmmm, difficult position, eh?
i love studies, but nothing really here
any addiction or anything in excess is negative and has those consequences.
It also depends on how mentally mature the individual is.
i would like to add, that i’ve had every “online addiction” there is
from gaming for days without too much rest to blogs, social network procrastination, etc. It was not healthy, but i never got “suddenly” depressed because of it and from time to time i did moderate myself as much as possible. It was like trend/seasonal thing.
the only time i was depressed in my life, was when i was young and “people addicted”. I took their influences, opinions and pressures wayyyyyy too seriously. I didnt had character or a mind of my own.
But i was fed up with feeling miserable, so i got help… yep, online (previously i had many doctors just give me stupid pills and no advice or techniques…). So this “evil” internet was the one that helped me.
So many people point out how the internet can make you depressed, but they dont point out all the successful cases where the so “evil” internet was actually the medium to cure those depressions.
Psychcentral is great example of this. Helping thousands across the globe, even while you sleep.
“Men come and go, but good advice stays forever”
So in conclusion anything in excess is never good, but the internet is just a tool, one that can add so much to your life or one that takes from you by using it incorrectly.