The study, which appears in the Archives of Pediatrics & Adolescent Medicine, followed 2,293 seventh graders (who were an average of 12 years old) for two years. At the beginning of the study, the students completed a questionnaire about whether they suffered from any psychosocial disorders and about their Internet usage habits. After two years, approximately 11 percent of students were addicted to using the Internet, and teens with psychosocial disorders were more likely to become addicted.
Michael Gilbert, senior fellow at the Center for the Digital Future at University of Southern California's Annenberg School for Communication, commented on the findings:
"It makes a great deal of sense to me why children with these kinds of issues would find the Internet utterly compelling ... If you have a child that is hyperactive, the Internet can move at their pace ... If you have a child that is depressed or has social phobia, they can get in touch with other kids dealing with the same kinds of issues.
"They can go into artificial worlds, like 'Second Life,' where they can live out fantasies or take on different personas. For kids who have anger or hostility, the Internet gives them a chance to play out their aggression there."
(Source: www.ajc.com)
Labels: depression, Internet addiction, ADHD
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