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Study reports Internet use among teens may lead to depression
Kimberly Williams / Staff photo - A recent report claims teens who use the Internet pathologically appear more likely to develop depression than those who do not.
By Kim Williams, kwilliams@acnpapers.com
The world of technology may have its drawbacks, according to a report posted online and scheduled to be included in the October print issue of Archives of Pediatrics & Adolescent Medicine, one of the JAMA/Archives journals.
The report claims teens who use the Internet pathologically appear more likely to develop depression than those who do not.
Uncontrolled or unreasonable Internet use has been identified as a problematic behavior since the mid-1990s. Warning signs and symptoms similar to those of other addictions are present in pathological Internet users across the board, the report said. Use in these situations has been associated with relationship problems, physical ill health, aggressive behaviors and other psychiatric symptoms.
The report also indicated the risk of depression for those who used the Internet pathologically was about two and a half times that of those who did not. No relationship was observed between pathological Internet use and anxiety.
The authors indicate this result suggests that young people who are initially free of mental health problems but who use the Internet pathologically could develop depression as a consequence.
Gayle Jensen-Savoie, Ph.D., LPC, LCDC and director of behavioral medicine at Texas Health Presbyterian Hospital in Plano, explains that adolescents use the Internet as a support system.
"When they are away from the computer or being connected online, they feel they no longer have support from peers," Jensen-Savoie said. "Since adolescents get their support from their peers, this type of support is difficult to obtain online, especially since this support is oftentimes a fantasy-type relationship."
Jensen-Savoie believes pathological Internet use decreases an adolescent's social skills in the "real world."
"Consequently, this type of use provides an adolescent minimal support when they need it most: at school, at family functions, etc.," Jensen-Savoie said. "Adolescents that are more prone to being loners... may already be prone to depression, and pathological Internet use would just exacerbate this issue."
Jensen-Savoie treats patients at Texas Health in Plano. and when dealing with adolescents with emotional and behavioral problems at every level, she involves the families in the treatment process every step of the way.
"Our goal is to educate families and help them in any way we can," Jensen-Savoie said. "For example, in a situation dealing with behavioral issues like pathological use of the Internet, we educate families about making sure the computer is located in the living room so parents can be more aware of what their children are doing on the computer."
Jensen-Savoie likes to educate families on cell-phone use for adolescents. She believes such use should be a privilege, not a right, which allows parents to monitor their child's Internet usage.
"We also help families recognize the warning signs of pathological use, which correlate with any addiction: if an adolescent continues to use the Internet after receiving consequences for being online too frequently; if an adolescent feels they need to be online more each day; if the adolescent feels their mood improves while online; and, of course, we always discuss the early warning signs of depression such as sadness, hopelessness, irritability, anger, hostility, frequent crying, withdrawal from friends and family, changes in eating and sleeping habits, restlessness, agitation, fatigue, lack of energy and thoughts of death or suicide." Jensen-Savoie said.
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