Longitudinal Study of Adverse effects of Internet Use on a New Type of Depressive Tendency and Preventive Measures

Abstract

We hypothesized that college students with internet addiction disorder tendency or frequent escaping from reality by Internet use tend to develop a more severe, new type of depressive tendency and experience decreased quality of life (QOL). Conversely, students who exhibit higher levels of empathetic internet usage tending to encourage each other, have a higher psychological resilience, and show a preference for exercising with others, all of which suppress this new type of depressive tendency and improve QOL. Longitudinal data collected by questionnaire surveys of college students majoring in humanities were analyzed by structural equation modeling, and the results appeared to support our hypothesis,except for a few parts. In order to prevent this new type of depressive tendency in the current information society, it is essential to reduce Internet use for the purpose of escape and promote both exercising with partners and psychological resilience.