Excessive time spent online linked to stress and worse mood – study

A recent German study has found a link between excessive online time and increased stress, poorer mood, and reduced participation in other activities. Conducted by researchers at the University of Duisburg-Essen and published in PLOS One, the study surveyed 900 German adults who used the internet for activities like gaming, pornography, social networking, or shopping at least once in the past year.

The participants were categorized as having pathological, risky, or non-problematic internet usage based on their frequency and impact on their daily lives. Pathological internet use refers to excessive use that interferes with normal functioning or causes distress.

Each evening for two weeks, the study participants reported their mood and stress levels, their desire to engage in problematic internet use, and the total time they spent online. The study also evaluated the pleasure derived from internet usage and whether other activities were neglected. Those with severe problematic internet use exhibited worse moods, higher stress levels, longer online sessions, and neglected other areas of their lives.

The researchers discovered that the urge to go online was the primary reason for continued internet use, with feelings of pleasure and relief serving as reinforcing factors.

Andreas Oelker, a co-author of the study, emphasized that it's not just stress or mood, but the momentary urge to go online that influences whether individuals engage in online activities and experience both positive and negative outcomes. He suggested that understanding why individuals at risk of problematic internet use go online at certain moments could lead to more effective prevention and treatment strategies.

The study's results supported the researchers' hypothesis that daily stress, mood, and temptation can predict a person's daily internet use and how these factors affect daily pleasure, relief, and neglect of other activities.

However, the researchers emphasized that not all internet usage has negative consequences; it's the problematic or excessive usage that causes issues. Silke M. Müller, another co-author, noted that while a small percentage of internet users develop pathological use patterns, the internet can still bring joy, fun, and stress relief when used responsibly.

They stressed the importance of not neglecting essential duties, responsibilities, and other activities that contribute to overall well-being and health, such as exercise, spending time outdoors, and socializing with friends. Previous studies have shown that internet addiction in young people may lead to changes in brain chemistry and increased activity in specific brain regions when resting.