It has become a reflex for many of us: surf the web to relax. However, this bad habit would have deleterious effects on our mental health.
- In May 2020, 13.5% of people aged 15 or over living in France reported symptoms suggestive of depression.
- A proportion up 2.5 points compared to 2019.
According to a new study published in the journal Computers in Human Behaviorsurfing the internet to relax can lead to an increase in depressive symptoms.
Addiction
To reach these conclusions, the authors evaluated for a little over a month the digital habits of 163 Chileans. Every two days, the participants had to answer questions relating to their use of the Internet (time spent, motivations, etc.). The presence of any depressive symptoms was assessed every five days.
After cross-checking all the data, the researchers then found that the people who were most likely to surf the internet to relax were the most depressed. They were also more likely to become addicted to web content.
Long term effects
Last observation: the depressive symptoms did not appear immediately but rather over the long term. “Massive use of the internet to forget one’s worries can work as an emotional buffer to alleviate negative emotions in the short term, but at the cost of developing addictive use of digital tools and depressive symptoms”, conclude the authors of the study.
Depressive symptoms can be: constant fatigue, permanent sadness, weight gain or loss, suicidal thoughts, memory or concentration problems or sleep disorders. Overall, any change in lifestyle that lasts more than two weeks should lead to consulting your doctor.
.
