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NBC News: – Mental health problems have increased dramatically over the last decade and the rise of digital media could be one of the reasons, according to a national poll released Thursday.
The research, published by the American Psychological Association, revealed a sharp increase in the number of young adults and adolescents who reported negative psychological symptoms, especially those born in 1995 or later, known as the name of iGen. Coincidentally, the biggest rise in symptoms occurred in 2011, around the same time that social media appeared.
No corresponding increase was observed in the elderly.
"We found a substantial increase in the number of depression or suicidal thoughts, psychological distress, and major suicide attempts after 2010 compared to the mid-2000s, and this increase was by far the largest among adolescents and youth adults, "said lead author Jean Twenge, author of the book: iGen" and professor of psychology at San Diego State University. "These trends are weak or non-existent in adults 26 years and older, suggesting a generational shift in mood disorders instead of an overall increase for all ages."
Twenge and his team badyzed data from the National Survey of Drugs and Health, a nationally representative survey of drug and alcohol use, mental health and other issues Americans aged 12 and over since 1971. They surveyed more than 200,000 adolescents aged 12 to 17 from 2005 to 2017 and nearly 400,000 adults aged 18 and over. more between 2008 and 2017.
The questionnaire did not ask participants if they had been diagnosed with depression or another mental disorder, but asked individuals if they had already had depressive symptoms in the last year. The rate of individuals reporting symptoms corresponding to major depression in the past 12 months increased from 52% among adolescents from 2005 to 2017 and 63% among young adults aged 18 to 25 from 2009 to 2017 , found the researchers. From 2008 to 2017, the number of young adults in severe psychological distress also increased by 71%.
And the rate of young adults with suicidal thoughts or other issues related to suicide increased by 47% between 2008 and 2017.
One of the reasons for this increase may be that the use of digital media has had a greater impact on adolescents and young adults than older adults, who generally have a more stable social life.
"The cultural trends observed over the past 10 years may have had a greater effect on mood disorders and suicide outcomes in younger generations than in older generations," he said. Twenge.
These results, which are probably due to genetic or economic problems, suggest that more research is needed to understand how digital communication versus face-to-face social interactions influences mood disorders and suicide outcomes. she added.
Recent studies have shown that greater use of social media is badociated with an increase in reported symptoms of social anxiety, social isolation and feeling of loneliness.
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