Internet addiction and Mental Heath

Aim
To study the influence of gender on Internet addiction and associated mental health related
variables like depression, anxiety and stress.

Internet

The Internet is a global network of billions of computers and other electronic devices. With
the Internet, it's possible to access almost any information, communicate with anyone else in
the world, and do much more. It is important to realize that the Internet is a global network of
physical cables, which can include copper telephone wires, TV cables, and fiber optic cables.
Even wireless connections like Wi-Fi and 3G/4G rely on these physical cables to access the
Internet.

The internet offers a collection of important services and resources that are essential to daily
living. By utilizing the internet, people are able to progress in almost all spheres of life. As
it’s a worldwide organization of the computer network, it can link people from all over. One
no longer has to waste time running for information – it’s available on the computer screen,
making the world smaller.

Internet provides effective communication using emailing and instant messaging services to
any part of the world. It improves business interactions and transactions, saving on vital time.
Banking and shopping online have made life less complicated. One can access the latest news
from any part of the world without depending on the TV or newspaper. Education has
received a huge boost as uncountable books and journals are available online from libraries
across the world. This has made research easier.

Internet Addiction
Internet addiction is a broad term that covers a range of behaviours and impulse-control
problems involving the internet, personal computer, and mobile technology. While there is
yet no officially accepted criteria to diagnose an internet addiction, researchers have
identified 5 subcategories of specific types of computer and internet addictions.
Cybersex Addiction - Cybersex addiction is one of the more self-explanatory internet
addictions. It involves online pornography, adult websites, sexual fantasy/adult chat rooms,
and XXX webcam services. An obsession with any of these services can be harmful to one’s
ability to form real-world sexual, romantic, or intimate relationships. Treatment options are
available for those with cybersex addictions, typically in the form of intervention followed by
ongoing inpatient or outpatient therapy.

Net Compulsions - Net compulsions concern interactive activities online that can be
extremely harmful, such as online gambling, trading stocks, online auctions (such as eBay),
and compulsive online shopping. These habits can have a detrimental impact on one’s
financial stability and disrupt job-related duties. Spending or losing excessive amounts of
money can also cause stress in one’s relationships.

Cyber (Online) Relationship Addiction - Cyber or online relationship addicts are deeply
involved with finding and maintaining relationships online, often forgetting and neglecting
real-life family and friends. Typically online relationships are formed in chat rooms or
different social networking sites but can occur anywhere one can interact with people online.

Compulsive Information Seeking - The internet provides users with a wealth of data and
knowledge. For some, the opportunity to find information so easily has turned into an
uncontrollable urge to gather and organize data. In some cases, information-seeking is a
manifestation of pre-existing, obsessive- compulsive tendencies. Compulsive information-
seeking can also reduce work productivity and potentially lead to job termination

Computer Or Gaming Addiction - Computer addiction, sometimes referred to as computer

gaming addiction, involves online and offline activities that can be done with a computer. As
computers became more widely available, games such as Solitaire, Tetris, and Minesweeper
were programmed into their software. Researchers quickly found that obsessive computer
game playing was becoming a problem in certain settings.
Effects & Symptoms of Internet Addiction
An addiction to the Internet is manifested in both physical and emotional symptoms;
however, these specifics may vary for each person. These are basically warning signals that
an addiction may be developing

Emotional Symptoms Of Internet Addiction

The following symptoms are typical of online addicts:

 Feelings of guilt
 Anxiety
 Depression
 Dishonesty
 Isolation
 Defensiveness

Physical Symptoms Of Internet Addiction

The following symptoms are characteristic of someone who uses the computer for a very long
period of time:

 Backache
 Headaches
 Weight gain or loss
 Disturbances in sleep
 Carpal tunnel syndrome
 Blurred or strained vision

The impact of internet addiction encompasses people of all ages. The effects of internet
addiction are listed below - 

Depression - Depression can tempt someone into retreating to a computer or internet-enabled

device and staying there for hours on end. In other cases, the allure of the internet can keep a
newer user online for hours to the point where they’re doing it every day, but as their
connections and relationships with others start to fade, depression can begin to seep in. If a
person’s internet usage is making depression worsen, it’s time to pull them out of the cycle
and begin some form of therapy.

Suicidal Thoughts - Not only does web addiction closely relate to depression, but it gets even
more serious: suicidal thoughts and actions. A 2014-15 survey in Taiwan  looked closely at
the link between suicide and internet addiction. When comparing the internet-addicted
respondents to the non-addicts, researchers found that internet addicts have:

 A 47 percent higher rate of suicidal thoughts within a week,

 A 23 percent higher rate of lifetime suicide attempts,
 A 5 percent higher rate of suicides attempt within a year

Mental Illness - Individuals with these types of addictions also exhibited significantly higher
amounts of depression and anxiety symptoms. There is debate over whether a computer, cell
phone, or online addiction is the cause or consequence of such mental health issues. ADHD
symptoms, such as difficulty planning ahead, poor time management, and higher-than-
average levels of attentional impulsivity, are also common among those with an internet
addiction. Additionally, those with an addiction are more likely to have a co-occurring
disorder that requires special care and treatment.

Sleep Deprivation - People these days  hook on to the internet before going to sleep to catch
up on what's happening around them. While well-adjusted teens may log off after a while,
those addicted to the internet continue to browse for long hours. As a result, they suffer sleep-
related issues like late sleep time, insufficient or restless sleep, and late waking time. This
sleep deprivation/disturbance can also worsen or magnify symptoms of anxiety and
depression.

Social Isolation - Those who spend a lot of time on the internet tend to become a part of one
or several online communities. They end up developing close friendships or intimate
relationships with a lot of individuals. To remain connected with these individuals, Internet
addicts stay online for long hours and often end up feeling disconnected from their families
and peers.
Social Media Influence
Social media is a platform for the public around the World to discuss their issues and
opinions. Social media is a term used to describe the interaction between groups or
individuals in which they produce, share, and sometimes exchange ideas, images, videos and
many more over the internet and in virtual communities. Children are growing up surrounded
by mobile devices and interactive social networking sites such as Twitter, My Space, and
Facebook, Orkut which has made social media a vital aspect of their life. Teenagers and
young adults have especially embraced these sites as a way to connect with their peers, share
information, reinvent their personalities, and showcase their social lives (Boyd, 2007).

The effects of social networking are twofold. Impact of Social-media can be positive as well
as negative-

Positive Impact of Social - Media

Impact of Social - Media on Society - Almost a quarter of the world’s population is now on
Facebook. Because social networks feed off interactions among people, they become more
powerful as they grow. And when these people find one another via social media, they can do
things — create memes, publications, and entire online worlds that bolster their worldview,
and then break into the mainstream.

Connectivity - Connectivity is among the most significant benefits of social media. It can link
countless users at any time, everywhere. Information could be spread globally through social
media and its connectedness, making it simple for people to interact with one another. It
results in global relationships.

Education - The use of social media in education is commendable. Learners and educators
can enrol in global collaborative platforms to facilitate constructive learning. It also aids in
skill improvement by fostering knowledge and creativity.

Information and Updates - Stay informed about events happening across the globe or in other
people's lives using social media. In contrast to television, radio, or newspapers, social media
lets everyone convey information accurately by presenting the real picture. It aids in
showcasing real-world news across the globe.

Awareness - People have become more conscious thanks to social media. It serves as a
channel for information, thus paving the way to innovation and success via developing their
knowledge and abilities. Social media well-covers global events, making people more aware
of their surroundings.

Share Anything with Others - Social - media is the best platform to convey feelings and
opinions - a song, a poem, a work of art, a decadent dessert, or anything else. Anyone can let
their creativity shine through the platform for it to be shared by millions of others. Sharing
the artistic works with others could open the door to achievement and several milestones.

Helps in Building Communities - Live in a diverse world where individuals from different
cultures, beliefs, and backgrounds exist. Social media brings these people together by linking
them on a common platform. Thus, fostering a sense of unity facilitates the development of
community links. For instance, food lovers can join the community of food bloggers, while
gamers can join communities focused on gaming, etc.

Mental Health – Social - media serves as an excellent stress reliever. Several groups can
support people battling against stress, depression, and loneliness. By creating a feeling of
elation, these communities can bestow a brighter attitude while also helping develop healthy
relationships with others, thus enhancing mental health.

Negative Impact of Social - Media

Social Media is relatively a newer technology; hence, it is a little difficult to establish its
long-term good and bad consequences. However, multiple researchers have concluded a
strong relationship between heavy use of social media platforms with an increase in risk of
depression, self-harm, anxiety, and loneliness.

Fear of Missing Out (FOMO) - Long-use of social media platforms make you addicted to
checking out what other people are doing. FOMO is an exacerbated feeling that other people
are living better lives or having more fun compared with you. This feeling makes you check
your notification every second, just to make yourself feel better.

Cyberbullying - Teenagers need to fit in, to be popular, and to outdo others. This process was
challenging long before the advent of social media. Add Facebook, Twitter, Snapchat, and
Instagram into the mix, and you suddenly have teenagers subjected to feeling pressure to
grow up too fast in an online world.

Lack of Privacy - Stalking, identity theft, personal attacks, and misuse of information are
some of the threats faced by social media users. Most of the time, the users themselves are to
blame as they share content that should not be in the public eye. The confusion arises from a
lack of understanding of how the private and public elements of an online profile actually
work.

Affects Social-Emotional Connection - Social media hampers emotional bonds. Everything is

conveyed through texts digitally, which can stunt expressions. Ingenuity is lost when people
who would ideally visit one another to convey greetings only send text messages instead of
hugs.

Decreases Quick-witted Skill - With the decrease in real face-to-face conversations and in-
person chats, quick-wittedness is rare. Sense of humor and sporty tête-à-têtes have been
compromised – the sense of love, friendship, fun, and enjoyment have all disappeared due to
the effects of social media on human mental health.

Lacking Understanding and Thoughtfulness - Feelings are conveyed through word and voice
– but to do this, there is a need to be physically present in front of the other person to
communicate feelings effectively. However, social media gives it a different hue when
anyone puts them into a text, thus masking the real meaning.

Addiction - A serious issue among youth social media addiction has led to disastrous
consequences. While checking social media and using the smartphone in moderation is not
bad, productive time and energy are wasted due to overuse.
Cheating and Relationship Issues - Individuals are now using social media as a platform for
dating and marriage. However, chances are that the information provided on the profile is
false, eventually leading to a toxic relationship or even divorce.

Causes of Internet Addiction

Following are the causes of Internet Addiction –

Genetics: Some people are predisposed to internet addiction because of dopamine and
serotonin deficiency. Internet addicts have lower levels of dopamine and serotonin compared
to the general population and this could explain the engagement in risky addictive behaviours
to achieve a pleasurable response.

Structural brain changes: Evidence exists that compulsive internet use can physically change
the structure of the brain. Internet addiction affects the grey and white matter in areas of the
prefrontal brain. The prefrontal regions are associated with remembering details, planning,
attention span, and prioritizing tasks.

Environmental factors: Social environmental factors that contribute to the development of

internet addiction include exposure to internet games, advertisements and accessibility to PC
cafés. The multiple levels of rewards that the internet offers also make it easier to be addicted
to the activity.

Underlying mental health conditions: People who suffer from anxiety or depression are more
likely to turn to the internet to find relief from symptoms. Similarly, shy people or those who
suffer from social awkwardness are at an increased risk of having an addiction to the internet.

Impact Of Internet Addiction on Youth

The following is the impact of internet addiction on youth -

Free and unlimited Internet access - When freshmen register today, they get a student ID
card, a meal card, and most important, a free personal e-mail account, generally without
online service fees to pay, no limits to their time logged on, and computer labs open for their
convenience around the clock. It is an Internet user’s dream.
Huge blocks of unstructured time - Most college students attend classes for 12 to 16 hours per
week. The rest of the time is their own to read, study, go to movies or parties, join clubs, or
explore the new environment outside their campus walls. Many forget all those other
activities and concentrate on one thing: the Internet.

Change in sleep patterns - A change in a person’s sleep habits is one of the first warning
signs. Chat rooms and meeting places for cybersex do not heat up until late at night, so the
unfaithful partner may stay up later and later to be part of the action. A partner may begin to
come to bed in the early morning hours, or he or she may leap out of bed 1 or 2 hours early to
use the computer for a prework e-mail exchange with a new romantic partner.

A demand for privacy - If someone begins an affair, whether online or offline, he or she
usually goes to great lengths to hide the truth from a partner. With a cyberaffair, this attempt
usually leads to the need for greater privacy and secrecy surrounding computer use. The
computer may be moved from the visible den to a secluded corner of a locked study, or a
person may change the password or cloak all his or her online activities in secrecy. If
disturbed or interrupted when online, a person may react with anger or defensiveness to
conceal the extent of his or her online involvement.

Influence of Internet Addiction on Mental Health

The global population is using the internet day and night, for various purposes. However, we
may or may not realise that using the internet has not just become our habit, but an addiction.
This addiction is also the reason we notice an excessive rise in mental disorders among
people all over the world. It is a psychological dependence that leads to an impairment of
various life activities. Not just internet addiction, internet gaming disorder (IGD) is also
having negative impacts on your psychosocial functions. Excessive internet use is related to
many psychiatric and psychosocial disorders.

There may be multiple factors that cause Internet Addiction Disorder. When someone has an
IA, their brain starts working in a way an addict’s brain would. It is similar to alcohol or
intoxicating drug dependency. The prefrontal region of your brain is affected and it becomes
difficult for you to remember details, pay attention, focus and prioritize tasks. The addictive
behaviour will likely trigger a release of dopamine and eventually, you will crave more of
this to derive some kind of pleasure.
The variable reinforcement effects of Internet addiction are another cause of this behaviour.
You might be so addicted to the internet because you are playing games, shopping or
gambling and it provides you rewards. You may be addicted to social media because you
have many friends you like talking to or you like to read updates and keep coming back for
more.

Biological predispositions are another contributing factor to this addiction. You may have
lower levels of dopamine and serotonin which require you to engage in more such behaviours
to derive pleasure, increasing the chances of internet addiction. If a person is dealing with
anxiety and depression, there are chances he or she does not socialise enough and may turn to
the Internet to feel better or less lonely.

The internet has become commonplace and routine for many individuals at work and home
each day. However, when the internet initially became widely known, it had many different
purposes than what it is used for by millions today. Understanding both the positive and
negative impact the internet has had on mental health is essential before putting it to use and
making the most out of one of the most fascinating social technological advances ever.

Positive Effects on Mental Health

Connecting With Online Communities and Groups - Online communities and groups are a
great source of both mental and emotional support. Whether you are struggling with a mental
illness or a physical disorder, seek out others who understand and face similar obstacles and
challenges each day. Joining online groups and communities provides a safe space that is
welcoming and free from judgment, shaming, and guilt that is often found in the outside
world.

Reconnecting With Family, Friends, And Contacts - Reconnecting with family and friends is
one of the greatest tools the internet has provided. With the ability to video chat, send funny
graphics, and keep in touch within seconds, spending time away from that one love has never
been easier to handle.

Finding Inspiration and Resources - With the dawn of the internet, we entered the
Information Age. Through online searches, people can find a host of resources and
information on any given topic. This can be especially helpful for people who are struggling
with their mental health or looking for ways to self-improve.

Negative Effects on Mental Health

Maintaining Appearances on Social- Media - A major downfall of the internet is social

media’s purpose of showcasing “highlight” reels of life each day. While social media is a
great tool to connect with loved ones, it is also a common source of anxiety and depression
for those who feel unhappy and unfulfilled in their everyday lives.

Cyberbullying - Cyberbullying is continuously on the rise with the advent of social media
platforms such as Snapchat, Kik, Instagram, Twitter, and Facebook. Cyberbullying is
constant, anonymous, and extremely damaging to mental and emotional health when it is not
addressed and stopped.

Increased Suicide Rates - There are serious implications to increased activity online by
children. Since 2006 and the dawn of social media, children are committing suicide at an
alarming rate. The frequency was higher from 2013 to 2015 — once every 3.4 days — thanks
mostly to a 54% spike in the suicides of 11 and 12 year olds compared to the three years
prior. CDC’s announcement of a recent rise in suicide rates in ages 10-14.

Self-Diagnosing - The internet offers a plethora of information and tools, and people often do
their own research when they are struggling with their health. In fact, according to Carenet
Health, 80 percent of people search for health information online. While internet research can
be a good place to start, it’s important to not rely on the internet for diagnosis.

ROL (DIFFERENT FOR ALL)

- IA AND DEPRESSION
- IA AND STRESS
- IA AND ANXIETY
- IA WITH ALL THREE

OBJECTIVES –

1. To study the influence of gender on IA

2. To study the influence of gender on mental health issues (stress, anxiety and depression)
TOOLS – DESCRIPTION

SAMPLE

PROCEDURE - Deeksha, Bhoomi, Minhaz

RESULTS (HEALTH PRACT)

TABLES- Preeti, Gayatri

DISCUSSION

CONCLUSION

REFERNECES