Teen internet usage associated with stress and suicidal ideation

Unsurprisingly, teenagers who spend more time online had higher levels of stress, depression, and suicide thoughts, according to a Korean study of over 30,000 high school students. The new study is published recently in the open-access journal PLOS ONE by Yeunhee Kwak of Chung-Ang University, Korea, and colleagues. 

The researchers used data from the 2018 Korea Youth Risk Behaviour Web-Based Survey to assess 29,811 high school students aged 16 to 18. There was also data on non-academic Internet use, mental health, and general student characteristics.

The study shows students spent an average of 193.4 minutes per day surfing the internet for non-academic purposes. Internet usage was highest among lower-grade students, females, low-income families, and students with low academic success. Students with lower internet usage reported better health, reduced feelings of sadness, and less suicidal ideation than the group with high Internet usage.

While the findings cannot demonstrate any causative link between Internet usage and mental health, the authors believe that active support and interventions are needed to reduce feelings of stress and sadness in adolescents and that programmes that promote healthy use of the internet, replace Internet use with social and physical activities, and help adolescents maintain good relationships could play a role.

Source: PLOS ONE