Abstract
The purpose of this study was to compare the risk for the traditional depressive tendency and a new type of depressive tendency associated with exposure to a techno-centered tendency in the informational environment. Data from questionnaire surveys conducted on university students in the information sciences were analyzed by structural equation modeling. The results verified that in comparison with the traditional depressive tendency, the deteriorating techno-centered tendency causes a greater increase in the new type of depressive tendency. Furthermore, the influence depended on the purpose of internet use. As a preventive measure against the tendency to develop the new type of depressive tendency in an information society, it is essential to reduce the techno-centered tendency and refrain from using the internet to escape from reality.
