Impact of Internet

The Impact of Internet Communications on Depressive Symptoms in College Freshmen

Morgan and Cotten (2003) in their investigation of the impact of Internet communications on depressive symptoms in college freshmen found that students who actively engaged Internet use as a primary form of communication had a lower incidence of depressive symptoms than those who used their computers less frequently. Although the data from this investigation has been quantified utilizing the Iowa version of the Center for Epidemiologic Studies Depression Scale (CES-D)-an instrument that has been noted to have a high degree of reliability for predicting depressive symptoms in this population-the idea that the Internet could reduce depressive symptoms does not seem plausible. The Internet, while a powerful tool for connecting individuals from all across the world, provides interaction on a superficial basis that provides no real "human" connection. As a medium, the Internet only socially isolates the individual and degrades the level of human contact that occurs outside of this environment. As such, higher levels of communication on the Internet-regardless of the sample population-should produce a higher degree of depression.

In order to make a cohesive argument in this case, one only needs to consider what has been written about the impact of the Internet on isolating the individual from the larger community. For instance, Perkins (2001) reports on a study prepared by the Stanford Institute for the Quantitative Study of Society about the effects of the Internet on society. According to this author the report demonstrated the following results based on the collection of quantitative data: "As Internet usage grows, Americans spend less time with friends and family, shopping and stores, or watching television, and more time looking for their employers at home-without cutting their hours at the office" (p. 16). What is effectively suggests is that the Internet has created a situation in which individuals are isolated from even the most familiar things in their environments.

While the study produced by the Stanford Institute clearly demonstrates that the Internet can serve as the basis to isolate the individual from family, friends, and other activities the most damaging conclusions about the impact of the Internet on society can be found in the final paragraphs of the report. According to Perkins:

The study concludes by saying that the Internet could very well be the ultimate isolating technology, reducing our participation in communities even more than television had before it. The study also emphasizes that unlike television, the Internet is largely an individual activity. It's not like TV, which you can treat as background noise... It requires more engagement and attention (p. 16).

When placed in this context, it becomes evident that the Internet serves as one of the most notable barriers to participation in the outside world. Individuals engaged with Internet technologies have fewer interpersonal contacts which serves as the basis to isolate individuals in the same community from one another.

With the realization that Internet technology has such a notable impact on isolating the individual from the larger context of society, it is not pertinent to consider how social isolation has been noted to impact the individual. Spence-Thomas and Thomas (2003) in their investigation of social isolation on the development of depression note that social isolation has been associated with a wide range of health problems including: depression, alcoholism, suicide and poor physical health. In their research, Spence-Thomas and Thomas found that social isolation led to a higher degree of depression which in turn had an impact on the propensity for the individual to engage in gambling. These authors argue that social isolation triggered impulsive behavior-i.e. gambling-as a means to mitigate the negative effects of the depression and loneliness associated with social isolation.

Arguably, with this data effectively demonstrates is that there is a cyclical pattern of behavior that develops when the process of social isolation occurs. Social isolation leads to a host of problems which can include depression, anxiety and loneliness. In order to cope with these issues, the individual may engage in impulsive behavior that helps to reduce the overall feelings associated with social isolation. Applying this to the information garnered with respect to the effect of the Internet on the social isolation of users, it becomes evident that Internet users will be more prone to depressive symptoms fan individuals that do not become socially isolated as a result of extensive Internet use. In this case, there is a direct correlation between the social isolation that is produced with respect to the Internet and the development of depressive symptoms. While this correlation can be drawn by connecting various pieces of data, there have been several studies undertaken to investigate the depressive symptoms that are associated with high Internet use among adolescent subjects.

Of the studies initiated to investigate the impact of depressive symptoms on Internet use on adolescents the research conducted by Sanders, Field, Diego, and Kaplan (2000) appears to have the most relevance. In this investigation, the researchers surveyed 89 high school seniors about their Internet use, their relationships with family members and their overall mood. The results of this investigation demonstrate that adolescents who reported the highest frequency of Internet use also reported the weakest bonds with parents. In addition, this data correlated to depressed mood has reported by the subjects. Adolescents that reported the lowest frequency of Internet use also reported the strongest bonds with parents and the fewest depressive symptoms. The authors conclude that the social isolation that is caused as a result of frequent Internet use contributes to a weakening of the bonds between the child and his or her parents and the onset of depressive symptoms.

The reason for this article appears to be the most relevant toward demonstrating the negative impact that the Internet can have on the development of depression in teenagers is that high school seniors are only months away from becoming college freshmen. In the original investigation by Morgan and Cotten (2003) college freshmen were surveyed with respect to their Internet use and depressive symptoms. Given that the two sample populations being compared in this case are only a few months different in age, it is surprising to find the fact such notable discrepancies exist with respect to the outcomes of each study. In many respects, the results reported by Sanders and coworkers (2000) appear to be more commensurate with the existing theory that has been noted with respect to social isolation and the use of the Internet. As such, it is clear that there is notable evidence to support the hypothesis that the research presented by Morgan and Cotten does not provide an accurate portrait of how the Internet impacts the presence of depressive symptoms in college freshmen.

In the end, there is simply too much theory and empirical evidence to suggest that the Internet actually has a positive impact on the social development of the adolescent or young adult. Research on the impact of the Internet on society clearly demonstrates that this particular medium only serves to isolate individuals in a community from one another. As the process of social isolation develops so to do feelings of depression, anxiety and loneliness. As such, there is a definitive connection between the frequency of Internet use and the development of depressive symptoms. Even though the research presented by Morgan and Cotten doe note support this hypothesis, it is possible that this study is simply a statistical anomaly. In order for these authors to definitively prove that their research has a significant merit, the same study would need to be replicated in a similar sample population. If this were done the final outcome of the data may not be the same.


Written by Prof. Erwin M. Globio, MSIT
    Senior IT Lecturer of Far Eastern University
                    Owner and Senior Technical Trainer of eglobiotraining.com