December 28, 2009
Self-inflicted Injuries More Common Among
Web-addicted Teens
The survey in China finds increased depression among this
group of adolescents.
Self-inflicted Injuries More Common Among
Web-addicted Teens
The survey in China finds increased depression among this
group of adolescents.
SUMMARY: For some reason, teens addicted to the Internet are twice as
likely to harm themselves as other teens, according to a survey of Chinese
adolescents. The survey of 1,618 students aged 13 to 18 in the city of
Guangzhou found about 16% who had harmed themselves in some way within
the previous six months, 4.5% reporting they had done it at least six times.
Self-harm was defined as hair pulling, hitting, deliberate burning, and pinching.
As reported in Prevention magazine, the survey found 90% of the participants
were normal users of the Internet, about 10% moderately addicted, and 0.6%
severely addicted. When not online, the addicted teens feel depressed and
nervous and also fantasize about being online. Besides being twice as likely to
hurt themselves, their self-inflicted injuries were apt to being more serious.
To read the entire article click on this link to USA TODAY.
COMMENT: Unfortunately, this article did not provide any reasons for the
increased tendency of these Chinese youth to hurt themselves if they are
addicted to the Internet. Nor did it indicate whether the link between Internet
usage and self-inflicted injuries is just as likely in more open western nations
or is peculiar to countries like China.
That being said, one can only speculate. Since the Internet often focuses on
the rich and the famous, perhaps many of the teens get depressed when
comparing their lifestyles to more glamorous people featured on the Web.
This may be especially true in China where young people don't seem to enjoy
the level of freedom Western teens expect.
For Christian parents an article like this one may serve as a wake-up call if
they see their children spending inordinate amounts of time on the Internet.
We already know about the temptations to sin offered by some Web sites and
about how heavy Internet usage can take away from more healthful activities
such as exercise and family interaction. Even more important is the question
of what it may be doing to their spiritual lives? Now learning that depression
and a tendency to harm themselves might be a result of spending too much
time on the Internet, we have one more another reason for being on the alert.
Parents may want to discuss this survey with their teens. They may wish to
ask their children to evaluate how they are prioritizing their spare-time
activities. Is God being crowded out of their lives because of the Internet? If
they are feeling depressed as a result of their Web activity, they should be
reminded that the Internet, though ii can be very helpful at times, is just
temporary and inconsequential compared to what awaits them in their
permanent home in heaven. May they nurture their God-given faith in Jesus
as Savior through regular church attendance and Bible study until the day
comes when hurts and depression of any kind will pass out of their lives and
the lives of all believers.
**************************************************************************************
Want to be automatically notified each time there is a new post? Just e-mail your
request to [admin@lutheranscience.org].
**************************************************************************************
QUESTION OF THE DAY
How can a person send an e-mail message to someone who doesn't have
a computer?
**************************************************************************************
NOTE ON VISITOR COMMENTS: Visitor comments are invited including those
containing alternate views. However, comments containing profanity or
advertisements will not be published. After posting a comment, please allow
several hours for it to appear on the blog.
**************************************************************************************
likely to harm themselves as other teens, according to a survey of Chinese
adolescents. The survey of 1,618 students aged 13 to 18 in the city of
Guangzhou found about 16% who had harmed themselves in some way within
the previous six months, 4.5% reporting they had done it at least six times.
Self-harm was defined as hair pulling, hitting, deliberate burning, and pinching.
As reported in Prevention magazine, the survey found 90% of the participants
were normal users of the Internet, about 10% moderately addicted, and 0.6%
severely addicted. When not online, the addicted teens feel depressed and
nervous and also fantasize about being online. Besides being twice as likely to
hurt themselves, their self-inflicted injuries were apt to being more serious.
To read the entire article click on this link to USA TODAY.
COMMENT: Unfortunately, this article did not provide any reasons for the
increased tendency of these Chinese youth to hurt themselves if they are
addicted to the Internet. Nor did it indicate whether the link between Internet
usage and self-inflicted injuries is just as likely in more open western nations
or is peculiar to countries like China.
That being said, one can only speculate. Since the Internet often focuses on
the rich and the famous, perhaps many of the teens get depressed when
comparing their lifestyles to more glamorous people featured on the Web.
This may be especially true in China where young people don't seem to enjoy
the level of freedom Western teens expect.
For Christian parents an article like this one may serve as a wake-up call if
they see their children spending inordinate amounts of time on the Internet.
We already know about the temptations to sin offered by some Web sites and
about how heavy Internet usage can take away from more healthful activities
such as exercise and family interaction. Even more important is the question
of what it may be doing to their spiritual lives? Now learning that depression
and a tendency to harm themselves might be a result of spending too much
time on the Internet, we have one more another reason for being on the alert.
Parents may want to discuss this survey with their teens. They may wish to
ask their children to evaluate how they are prioritizing their spare-time
activities. Is God being crowded out of their lives because of the Internet? If
they are feeling depressed as a result of their Web activity, they should be
reminded that the Internet, though ii can be very helpful at times, is just
temporary and inconsequential compared to what awaits them in their
permanent home in heaven. May they nurture their God-given faith in Jesus
as Savior through regular church attendance and Bible study until the day
comes when hurts and depression of any kind will pass out of their lives and
the lives of all believers.
**************************************************************************************
Want to be automatically notified each time there is a new post? Just e-mail your
request to [admin@lutheranscience.org].
**************************************************************************************
QUESTION OF THE DAY
How can a person send an e-mail message to someone who doesn't have
a computer?
**************************************************************************************
NOTE ON VISITOR COMMENTS: Visitor comments are invited including those
containing alternate views. However, comments containing profanity or
advertisements will not be published. After posting a comment, please allow
several hours for it to appear on the blog.
**************************************************************************************
0 Comments
| LSI stands for the Lutheran Science Institute, an organization of WELS and ELS Lutherans interested in science and health issues with a special emphasis on the creation and evolution controversy. This blog's purpose is to search the Internet to find articles of interest to Christians. Views expressed are those of the author (Warren Krug) and are not necessarily those of the Lutheran Science Institute, Inc. |
A service called Sunnygram will turn your
e-mail messages and digital photos into
printed copy and mail them to the person you
wish to receive them. Messages can be
mailed as often as weekly for a monthly fee
of $9.95.
Source: USA Weekend (November 27-29,
2009)
e-mail messages and digital photos into
printed copy and mail them to the person you
wish to receive them. Messages can be
mailed as often as weekly for a monthly fee
of $9.95.
Source: USA Weekend (November 27-29,
2009)
