Internet use linked to depression
Internet use linked to depression
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By Matt Hallam. |  |
Wednesday, 03, Feb 2010 10:23
By inthenews.co.uk staff.
Psychologists in the UK have said there is a strong link between the time people spend surfing the internet and a person's mental health.
The scientists from Leeds University said people who spent the most time on the internet were more likely to suffer from depression and being unhappy.
The study in the journal Psychopathology found 1.2 per cent of people surveyed were "internet addicts". Many of those in this category were deemed depressed; though scientists pointed out they were unsure whether the internet was the cause of the depression.
Study leader Dr Catriona Morrison, from the Institute of Psychological Sciences at the University of Leeds, said: "The internet now plays a huge part in modern life, but its benefits are accompanied by a darker side.
"There was a high correspondence between the amount of time spent on the internet and levels of depression.
"If you look at how dependent people feel they are on the internet that is likely to correspond with how happy or sad they feel."
The researchers said young people were significantly more likely to show addictive symptoms than older people.