Computer and Internet use and mental health

  • TYPE OF PSYCHOLOGY: Psychopathology; psychological methodologies; social psychology

Technologies such as computers and the Internet are ubiquitous in contemporary culture, providing means of valuable work and social interaction and facilitating advances in mental health. Concurrently, some individuals have proven vulnerable to these technologies, developing or exacerbating physical and mental pathology.

Introduction

Technologies such as the computer and Internet provide immense health and social benefits. They serve as means to distribute telehealth—support and information services related to healthcare. They allow for social support among individuals in geographically distanced communities through social networking, providing benefits such as reduced isolation and social commerce. Moreover, computers and the Internet provide means of entertainment, such as online social gaming environments; learning, by improving hand-eye coordination in games; and skill development, by facilitating new ways of solving problems or puzzles.

The benefits of computer and Internet use are juxtaposed with both the physical and psychological pathologies that may result from use. Excessive computer use can take a physical toll on a person, affecting the back, hands, and eyes. Strained muscles and back stiffness from remaining sedentary for extended periods of time are some examples of the detriments of computer and Internet use. Failure to take regular breaks can also result in problems such as eyestrain. Moreover, serious functional difficulties, such as carpal tunnel syndrome, may result. Carpal tunnel syndrome occurs when an individual’s nerves are compressed—resulting in excruciating pain in the hands, wrists, and forearms—because of the way in which a person is positioned at the computer and the time spent in those positions. Furthermore, because of the increased pain and discomfort, these ailments can affect feelings of well-being and even result in surgeries, lost time at work, and pain disorders.

Excessive computer use can also lead to compulsive disorders. Individuals may use the Internet for sexual activity or may overuse social-networking or online-gaming sites. In these cases, individuals spending large amounts of time in these activities may experience problems in other areas of their lives. These may result from foregoing face-to-face interactions in favor of online interactions or from spending so much time on the computer that an inability to complete other work, social, or personal obligations and responsibilities occurs. This condition is similar to addiction, in which the person engages in the use of substances despite serious social or physical consequences. In such cases, individuals may feel a compulsion, or pressing drive to participate in the behavior that feels inescapable. , or feelings of relief experienced after participating in the behavior that bolsters continued practice of the behavior, also increases the likelihood that the activity will become a vice. When individuals get locked into destructive behavior patterns, the result may be other psychological maladies such as depression and anxiety or feelings of a lack of control. Sometimes, these addictions preclude the person from meeting basic living needs.

Teens who spend an increased amount of time on the Internet, particularly visiting social media sites, can also expose themselves to cyberbullying that can lead to exacerbated feelings of self-doubt, depression, and anxiety. In some cases, because bullying online can be more persistent due to the possibility of anonymity and accessibility, links have been discovered between teens who have committed suicide and excessive bullying experienced on the Internet. As part of its biannual nationwide survey Youth Risk Behavior Surveillance, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reported that in 2019, 15.7 percent of students surveyed stated that they had been bullied electronically in the previous twelve months. In 2023, this percentage had risen to 16 percent. Further, in 2023, US Surgeon General Vivek Murthy released an advisory citing growing evidence that social media was harming teen’s mental health. The American Psychological Association also issued a health advisory. Concern continues to grow about the effects of the internet on young people’s mental health.

Finally, use of the computer and Internet to participate in socially taboo behavior, or behavior which is deemed socially inappropriate and destructive, can also have psychological ramifications. The anonymity of the Internet may allow participation in illegal behaviors such as child pornography, harming children and potentially fostering problems such as compulsions in the adult participants. Exposure of taboo behavior can lead to relationship problems, exacerbation of substance-related problems, depression, and even suicide.

As of 2024, researchers continued to study whether Internet addiction may be indicative of other mental health issues. Although Internet addiction disorder had not yet been included in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-5), the official diagnostic authority of the American Psychiatric Association, researchers have developed criteria for the disorder.

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