In today’s society the internet has become the number one mode of communication. Young
adults and adolescents are the most affected by the internet and it has led to the way they
interaction, communicate, socialize and maintain their friendships. While there are benefits to
live in the digital world, there are also risks involved.
Internet Addiction and Mental Health in Adolescents
Adolescents who are addicted to the internet are more likely to develop mental health
problems than other adolescents, who are classified as normal internet users. Sadness, feeling
down, having a loss of interest in daily activities are some of the symptoms.
Incidence and remission of IAD in adolescents are mainly resulted by low self-esteem,
lower self-image and less social interaction (Ko et al. 543-551). Also, adolescents suffering from
IAD develop the tendency of media multitasking which is associated with symptoms of
depression and social anxiety. Consequently, IA is a situation that can bring up ill health
conditions for a living human, and is best when dealt with before time is up.
The main causes of IA
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Internet addiction (IA) has been defined as “excessive or poorly controlled
preoccupations, urges or behaviors regarding computer use and internet access that led to
impairment or distress” (Shaw & Black 353-65). The main risk factors and consequences of IA
are in the lines of substance abuse. It is a mental health issue which is affected by the other
mental health conditions. The increase in penetration of high-speed internet coupled with
affordability of computer devices is the key feature that leads to emergence of IA.
Furthermore, due to the fact that IA effects other mental disorders, IA is self-initiated.
This means that for an individual to develop IA he or she must have propel it to happen. So, IA
condition can be simply caused by self-decision or self-relationship, and is by this means that
one can refrain from such behavior or condition.
Internet Addiction and Its Impact
Internet addiction (IA) causes internet addiction disorder (IAD) and it is a mental health
disorder which features lack of patience, symptoms of isolation and emotional disturbances and
interruption of social relationships. Signs and symptoms of IAD are both physical and emotional.
Some of the major emotional symptoms of IAD include depression, anxiety, mood swings and
loneliness (Kuss & Lopez 143). On the other hand physical symptoms of IAD include sudden
gain or loss of weight, eye-sight problems, poor nutrition, neck pain, insomnia, headaches and
backache.
The impacts of IA are crucial and catastrophic to some points. They could otherwise lead
to madness due to breakups and loss of other things like betting or also can propel death. So, IA
should be avoided at any cost. The professionals should therefore take the advantage of
counselling those dealing with such cases.
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Some of the recommended treatments of IAD are reality therapy, art therapy, recreation
therapy, equine therapy, dialectical behavior therapy (DBT), cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT),
behavior modification and individual, group or family therapy.
Brain’s Chemical and Structural Alterations with IA
It has been established in neuroimaging studies that IA is associated with structural and
functional changes in brain regions involved in executive attention, decision making, emotional
processing, and cognitive control (Lin F et al.). When those regions of the brain are tampered
with or affected, the results can be in-imaginable. For instance, rightful decision making as an
example becomes a problem for the victim of the same.
Other Effects of IA on Mental Health
Internet addiction is a disorder itself as discussed earlier. Its other effects on the health of
the victim includes insomnia, which is lack of sleep, and stress. Moreover, IA may end up
causing broken relationships in a family, since stress leads to alcohol intake and smoking, hence
the repercussions.
Internet addiction is higher in males than in females. With this situation, it means that IA
can also lead to economic deterioration since the male gender are considered as the development
factor in every community.
Addictive gaming is a form of IA and is associated to poorer sleep quality. This affects
the brain function as sleep quality go in hand with the brain function capability. When the brain
is affected with lack of sleep, it develops other disorders such as fatigue, short temper and lack of
focus low libido and deters mental wellbeing.
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The effects of IA are intolerable. For instance, adolescents and young generation are on
the verge of unhealthy relationship and other condition in that line, since IA is mostly
experienced by the young generation.
Other Recommendation for IA and Mental Health Disorder
Among the psychotherapeutic interventions, motivational enhancement therapy is a
frequent approach to treat or eliminate IA and its effects to mental health of a person. Also
another strategy to cope with IA is moderate or controlled use of the internet rather than total
abstinence.
All in all, the internet is a useful tool in our modern world in such situations as
communication and socialization. The effects associated with internet addiction in relations to
mental health makes the internet a devious means of communication. Otherwise, while the
recommendations are put to practice internet addiction should be diminished to have a better
living society.
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Works Cited
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2020.doi:10.1007/s12207-20-09398-3
Kuss DJ, Lopez-Fernandez O. Internet Addiction and Problematic Internet Use: A Systematic
Review of Clinical Research. World Journal of Psychiatry 6. 2016: 143
Ko CH, Yen JY, Yen CF, Lin HC, Yang MJ. Factors Predictive for Incidence and Remission of
Internet Addiction in Young Adolescents: A Prospective Study. Cyber Psychology &
Behavior. 2007. 10: 545-551
Lin F, Yan Z, Yasong D, Lindi Q, et al. Abnormal White Matter Integrity in Adolescents with
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Masih J, Rajikumar R, J. Depress Anxiety 2019, S13. DOI: 10.4172/2167-1044.S13-002
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