Excessive Internet Use Leads to Depression

Excessive Internet Use Leads to Depression

A new Leeds University study has found people classified as ‘internet addicts’ are more likely to be depressed.

The article in the Psychopathology journal documented the apparent relationship between excessive internet use and depression.  The questionnaire-based study of 1,319 young people and adults, used data compiled from 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 said 18 of the people who completed the questionnaire – 1.4% of the total – were internet addicts.   (That is twice as high as the 0.6% of people in the general population who are addicted to gambling).  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.

Said lead author Dr. Catriona Morrison: "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?"