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Internet usage may be factor in depression

By Staff Writer

Many kids use computers as a form of entertainment, but new research suggests that the internet may be linked to depression in adolescents.

Pierre-Andre Michaud and his colleagues from the University of Lausanne in Switzerland recently conducted a survey, asking 7,200 individuals between the ages of 16 and 20 about their internet use. During the research, adolescents who utilized the internet for more than two hours a day were referred to as "heavy users."

Study participants who used the internet excessively or not at all showed depressive symptoms when responding to health questions. Male teens who were "heavy users" or non-internet users were one-third more likely to show signs of depression. Females had an 86 percent chance of developing the illness when using the internet excessively or not using it at all.

Researchers are under the assumption that social networking plays a role in the survey data. Because most kids use the internet to connect with their friends, those who utilize it sparingly may be isolated.

More than 20 million Americans age 18 and older suffer from a mood disorder annually, according to the National Institute of Mental Health. Rehabilitation facilities and counseling may help kids attempting to manage depression and prevent it from worsening over time. 

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