TY  - JOUR
AU  - Thom, Robyn Pauline
AU  - Bickham, David S
AU  - Rich, Michael
PY  - 2018
DA  - 2018/05/22
TI  - Internet Use, Depression, and Anxiety in a Healthy Adolescent Population: Prospective Cohort Study
JO  - JMIR Ment Health
SP  - e44
VL  - 5
IS  - 2
KW  - mental health
KW  - psychiatric disorders
KW  - internet use
KW  - social networking sites
AB  - Background: Psychiatric disorders, including conduct disturbances, substance abuse, and affective disorders, emerge in approximately 20% of adolescents. In parallel with the rise in internet use, the prevalence of depression among adolescents has increased. It remains unclear whether and how internet use impacts mental health in adolescents. Objective: We assess the association between patterns of internet use and two mental health outcomes (depression and anxiety) in a healthy adolescent population. Methods: A total of 126 adolescents between the ages of 12 and 15 years were recruited. Participants reported their typical computer and internet usage patterns. At baseline and one-year follow-up, they completed the Beck Depression Index for primary care (BDI-PC) and the Beck Anxiety Inventory for Primary Care (BAI-PC). Individual linear regressions were completed to determine the association between markers of internet use at baseline and mental health outcomes at one-year follow-up. All models controlled for age, gender, and ethnicity. Results: There was an inverse correlation between minutes spent on a favorite website per visit and BAI-PC score. No association was found between internet use and BDI-PC score. Conclusions: There is no relationship between internet use patterns and depression in adolescents, whereas internet use may mitigate anxiety in adolescents with higher levels of baseline anxiety. 
SN  - 2291-5222
UR  - http://mental.jmir.org/2018/2/e44/
UR  - https://doi.org/10.2196/mental.8471
DO  - 10.2196/mental.8471
ID  - info:doi/10.2196/mental.8471
ER  -