Internet Addiction & Health Effects
The Internet has become an integral part of many people's work and personal lives. The number of people online daily has nearly doubled over the past decade, according to research conducted by the Pew Internet and American Life Project 1.
The Internet has become an integral part of many people's work and personal lives. The number of people online daily has nearly doubled over the past decade, according to research conducted by the Pew Internet and American Life Project 1⭐
⭐This is a verified and trusted sourcePew Research Center: Pew Internet and American Life Project
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Physical Effects
Internet overuse can lead to sedentary lifestyles, weight gain and a decline in physical fitness. Other symptoms can include carpal tunnel syndrome, dry eyes, migraine headaches, a decline in personal hygiene and back aches, according to Maressa Hecht, founder of Computer Addiction Services and a member of the Harvard Medical School.
Depression
Depression has also been linked to Internet overuse by researchers at the Institute of Psychological Sciences in Leeds, UK. Researchers found that study participants who exhibited signs of Internet overuse engaged disproportionately than the normal population in sites devoted to pornography, gaming, social networking and chat rooms. They theorized that Internet addicts' use of these sites as replacements for real-life socializing was resulting in depression. However, there is debate as to whether depression results from, or is a cause, or internet overuse. A study published in the "Archives of Pediatrics and Adolescent Medicine" found depression, as well as ADHD and social phobia, to increase the chances of excessive Internet use in adolescents 5⭐
⭐This is a verified and trusted sourceArchives of Pediatrics and Adolescent Medicine: Predictive Values of Psychiatric Symptoms for Internet Addiction in Adolescents
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Sleep Disturbances
Evidence also suggests that internet overuse can contribute to sleep disturbances. Studies of Chinese and American children, published in the "Journal of Sleep" and the "Journal of the American Academy of Pediatrics," found that computer use among adolescents was associated with later bed times, later waking times, less restful sleep and an overall decrease in sleep 2⭐
⭐This is a verified and trusted source ⭐This is a verified and trusted sourceJournal of Sleep: The Impact of Media Use on Sleep Patterns and Sleep Disorders among School-Aged Children in China
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Official Journal of the American Academy of Pediatrics: Impact of Singular Excessive Computer Game and Television Exposure on Sleep Patterns and Memory Performance of School-aged Children
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- Pew Research Center: Pew Internet and American Life Project
- International Journal of Descriptive and Experimental Pschopathology, Phenomenology and Psychiatric Diagnosis: The Relationship between Excessive Internet Use and Depression
- Archives of Pediatrics and Adolescent Medicine: Predictive Values of Psychiatric Symptoms for Internet Addiction in Adolescents
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