Girls get depressed chatting online about love problems

William Atkins
Tuesday, 03 February 2009 06:40

Science - Health

The two researchers concluded that their young female subjects overall become more moody, anxious, and depressed the more they chatted with friends on the Internet (emailing, social networking, Internet messaging, etc.), cell phones (conversing, texting, etc.), and other communication modes concerning problems and disappointments in their romantic activities.

Dr Davila remarked, "Texting, instant messaging and social networking make it very easy for adolescents to become even more anxious, which can lead to depression.”

Dr. Davila added that discussing your problems with friends does have its good points.

She states, “Lots of talking can help if those involved have strong problem-solving skills because it helps them reach a solution and it builds friendships."

ReadWriteWeb.com’s article “New Illness: Facebook Depression?” asks the question “Is it really Facebook and IM that's getting the girls down? Or is it just the nature of teenage girls to talk themselves to tears?”

It conjectures, "Years ago, those same girls may have spent hours on the phone or writing out their thoughts in secret "slambooks." Even longer ago, they probably sat at their desks writing out long, emotional letters. For many girls, chatting about or dwelling on their problems is just a part of growing up."

Read more of this article for more discussion on this question.