Internet Addiction and Depression – Do They Go Hand-in-Hand?

Internet addiction and depression are both serious problems that have gained increasing amounts of notoriety recently as more and more discussion has been dedicated to these issues. Yet, the question remains – is there any sort of link between the two? Recently, a British study set out to find the answer, and the results were reported in the journal "Psychopathology."

This 2010 study conducted in the UK found no causal relationship between Internet addiction and depression; however, the study did find higher rates of depression among those who were addicted to surfing the Web. This could be due to a number of reasons: For instance, someone addicted to surfing the Internet who spends countless hours isolated from other people while online may certainly become depressed as a result. Furthermore, someone who is depressed may seek out socialization options and interaction that the Internet can provide, rather than actual human contact. More research is needed to confirm these theories, but the signs of this epidemic are certainly beginning to show.

What does this mean for parents? Have you already begun to worry about your child's use of the Internet, or their persistent moodiness as a potential warning sign of depression? If so, contact your doctor right away for help with Internet addiction and depression. Furthermore, you may be interested in learning more about the Mikko Que, a state-of-the-art device that gives parents powerful tools to monitor their children's screen time on the Internet, TV, video games, and more.

With the Mikko Que you can reduce the use of electronic devices by decreasing your child's time allowance over a period of time.  For example, in a given month you might allow your child 10 hours a day of use. Then, you can reduce usage to eight hours a day the next month and so on until your child's media consumption is more in line with recommended standards. This technique is less obtrusive and will result in less resistance.  It will also give parents the peace of mind that during sleeping hours their children are not up watching TV, playing video games, or surfing the Internet.

To learn more about the Mikko Que, how it can help you create a healthy, effective system for managing screen time in your home, and avoiding the potential consequences of Internet addiction and depression, contact us today.

Media Management for Children … It’s time.