Surfing the internet can expose a 'dark side' of the soul, with online addicts more likely to be depressed, claim psychologists.
They found the longer people spent on websites, the more unhappy they were.
Those worst affected are both depressed and addicted, possibly because they are substituting the net for normal social activities.
Dependent? Researchers found that the longer people spent on websites, the more unhappy they were
Research leader Dr Catriona Morrison, from the University of Leeds, said: 'The internet plays a huge part in modern life, but its benefits are accompanied by a darker side.'
Researchers questioned 1,319 people aged from 16 to 51 to assess levels of internet dependency and depression.
In general, the longer people spent online the more depressed they tended to be, reported the journal Psychopathology.
Dr Morrison said: 'There was a high correspondence between the amount of time spent on the internet and levels of depression.
'If you look at how dependent people feel they are on the internet, that is likely to correspond with how happy or sad they feel.'
The research team identified 18 hard-core internet users who spent many hours online each day and were classed as 'internet addicted'.
Their average depression score was more than five times higher than that of non-addicted users, and they were more likely to be moderately or severely depressed.
The addicts spent more time browsing ~~~~ography sites, gaming sites and online communities. They also tended to be young, having an average age of 21.
Dr Morrison added: 'Our research indicates that excessive internet use is associated with depression, but what we don't know is which comes first - are depressed people drawn to the internet or does the internet cause depression?'
They found the longer people spent on websites, the more unhappy they were.
Those worst affected are both depressed and addicted, possibly because they are substituting the net for normal social activities.
Dependent? Researchers found that the longer people spent on websites, the more unhappy they were Research leader Dr Catriona Morrison, from the University of Leeds, said: 'The internet plays a huge part in modern life, but its benefits are accompanied by a darker side.'
Researchers questioned 1,319 people aged from 16 to 51 to assess levels of internet dependency and depression.
In general, the longer people spent online the more depressed they tended to be, reported the journal Psychopathology.
Dr Morrison said: 'There was a high correspondence between the amount of time spent on the internet and levels of depression.
'If you look at how dependent people feel they are on the internet, that is likely to correspond with how happy or sad they feel.'
The research team identified 18 hard-core internet users who spent many hours online each day and were classed as 'internet addicted'.
Their average depression score was more than five times higher than that of non-addicted users, and they were more likely to be moderately or severely depressed.
The addicts spent more time browsing ~~~~ography sites, gaming sites and online communities. They also tended to be young, having an average age of 21.
Dr Morrison added: 'Our research indicates that excessive internet use is associated with depression, but what we don't know is which comes first - are depressed people drawn to the internet or does the internet cause depression?'
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