German study links heavy internet use to stress and low mood

A new German study has linked excessive internet use to higher stress levels, worse mood and neglect of other activities. 

Spending excessive time online affects mental health

Researchers at the University of Duisburg-Essen recently had a study published in the journal PLOS One, which surveyed 900 adults in Germany who spend time on the internet engaging with games, pornography, social media or online shopping. 

The study found that participants with more problematic internet usage, which is the excessive use of online applications to the point of functional impairment or distress, were more likely to experience worse moods, more stress, spend more time online, and neglect other areas of life. 

Temptation was also revealed to be the main driving factor for people to go online, with pleasure and relief further reinforcing the behaviour, reports The Guardian. 

Better treatment for addictive internet behaviour

With this study, researchers hope to come up with better prevention and treatment strategies for pathological internet use. “Our findings suggest that helping people recognise and manage moments of temptation may be more effective than focusing on stress or mood alone,” study lead Andreas Oelker told The Guardian. 

However, the scholars point out that “only a small percentage of internet users develop pathological use patterns”. As long as other areas of life, such as work, relationships, exercise, socialising and spending time outdoors, are not frequently neglected, using the internet can bring joy and stress relief in an enriching way.

With other studies proving that young people with internet addictions are more susceptible to other addictive behaviours, and that social media can cause higher rates of depression and negative self-image, many countries, including Germany, are mulling the introduction of social media bans for children. 

The European Commission recently proposed a social media ban for children under the age of 13. Under the regulation, kids would only be able to use social media and other digital services under parental supervision or in an educational setting, reports tagesschau.