A new study being released from Leeds is showing the difference between chronic email checkers and dangerous internet compulsiveness that leads to sever addiction, reclusiveness and suicide. Dangerous compulsive disorders are making internet addicts replace real-life social interaction with chat rooms and online networking sites. What's considered compulsive and what's considered a mental health concern?
University of Leeds psychologists have performed the first large scale study of Western young people that show the significant negative affects of internet addiction. Many people in society claim to have some type of internet addiction, such as compulsively checking their iphone for an email or text, constantly updating a Twitter account or spending hours on Facebook looking into their friends' lives.
None of these activities seem too abnormal however because most internet savvy people are guilty of this behavior in some way. When these activities start to disrupt normal life to the point of mental instability, then there's a problem. This study isn't looking to spark a decrease of use in the average internet user, but it may raise some red flags to people who might really have a problem.
Statistics of 1,319 people aged 16 to 51 revealed a 1.2 percent addiction rate. This figure might seem small, but it's actually larger than the incidences of addicted gamblers in the UK. Another surprising finding, is the average of addicted users is 21 years old.
"This study reinforces the public speculation that over-engaging in websites that serve to replace normal social function might be linked to psychological disorders like depression and addiction," stated Dr Catriona Morrison, from the University of Leeds. "We now need to consider the wider societal implications of this relationship and establish clearly the effects of excessive internet use on mental health."
A suicide increase in the Welsh town of Bridgend in 2008 is what prompted psychologists to study how the internet affects vulnerable teenagers. The other question drawn from this research is what happens first, the depression or the internet. If already disturbed people are drawn to the internet then its impact will only have a negative affect.
The research will be published in the journal Psychopathology on February 10.
Written by Amy Munday
Huliq.com
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