An analysis of data from a longitudinal study of child development in Canada showed that girls who spent more hours on the internet at 13 years of age tended to have higher depressive symptoms at age 15. In the same way, girls’ internet usage at age 15 was associated with more depressive symptoms at 17. These associations were absent in boys. The study was published in Psychological Medicine. ...
  • Renneder@sh.itjust.worksOPM
    171·
    11 months ago
    • The study found that girls who spend more time online have more severe depressive symptoms.
    • The boys had no such associations.
    • Depression is becoming more common and can lead to learning and relationship difficulties.
    • Adolescence is a critical period for the development of depression.
    • Poor mental health during adolescence can lead to academic and relationship problems.
    • The study found a correlation between Internet use and symptoms of depression in girls.
    • The study contributes to the scientific understanding of the relationship between Internet use and depression.
    • However, the researchers did not take into account the details of Internet activity and spoke French.
    • terry_jerry@sh.itjust.works
      22·
      11 months ago

      “researchers did not take into account the details of internet activity” seems like a pretty big hole in the study…

      • fibojoly@sh.itjust.works
        141·
        11 months ago

        Probably means they didn’t take into account the fact that boys were just blasting people in online games whereas girls drowned themselves in social media? I reckon it’s nothing to do with actual gender and more about what those genders spend their time doing online.

        • 🐱TheCat@sh.itjust.works
          11·
          11 months ago

          As a girl who spent time in MMOs before social media was even a thing…

          it was all the casual misogyny. Girls can’t go to (online) games for a release, it’s misogyny everywhere.

        • InfiniteStruggle@sh.itjust.works
          41·
          11 months ago

          This makes a lot of sense. Video games is interacting with actual people online and I think exposes many more facets of people, than social media where everything someone posts is curated to show only the best parts of themselves.