Prospective associations between internet use and poor mental health: A population-based study.

ABSTRACT:

Objectives

Most of the evidence on the effects of internet use on mental health derives from cross-sectional research. We set out to explore prospective associations between internet use (hours online and specific internet experiences) and future mental health problems.

Methods

Participants were 1,431 respondents from the Avon Longitudinal Study of Parents and Children (ALSPAC), a UK birth cohort, who completed a questionnaire on internet use (time online and ten different internet experiences) when they were aged 18 years. Outcomes included past year self-harm, assessed at 21 years and high levels of depression and anxiety symptoms, assessed at 22 years. Associations were investigated using logistic regression models and analyses were conducted separately for males and fema

SUBMITTER: Mars B 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC7377422 | biostudies-literature | 2020

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature