Study finds depression may be associated with Internet use in teens

By Staff Writer

A recent study published in the journal Pediatrics finds that too much time spent on the Internet may be linked to depression.

However, researchers also noted that teens who spend no time on the world wide web were at risk of developing depression symptoms.

In the study adolescents who were online more than two hours per day were considered heavy Internet users. Meanwhile, those who were online several times per week for up to two hours per day were considered regular users.

Researchers found that male teens who were heavy users were 33 percent more likely to have a high depression score compared to regular users. Moreover, female heavy users had an 86 percent greater chance of depression.

Officials said that they have yet to determine why both heavy Internet use and non-use were linked to higher teen depression risks. However, they suggest that since adolescents often go online to connect with friends, those who do not may be more socially isolated.

The study also revealed that girls often trade sleep for online time and boys often add weight. Researchers said that further studies are needed to find why this occurs.