Researchers from the University of Pittsburg assessed the risk of depression among a sample of 4,142 middle and high school students and found that too much television or on computer games may seriously affect teens’ mental health.  Dr. Brian A. Primack, M.D., of the University of Pittsburgh, and colleagues reported their findings in the February issue of the Archives of General Psychiatry.

Can Too Much TV, Computers & Radio Cause Depression?

The study shared that the “odds of developing depressive symptoms rose with each additional hour of exposure by a significant 8% for TV and 5% for overall electronic media.”  According to Dr. Primack, “It really does seem that television exposure is what occurs first and then depression is what occurs later. This does not prove causality but it certainly suggests it more than previous studies.”

In 1995, a National Longitudinal Study of Adolescent Health found that youth exposed to an average of six hours a day of media (including 2.30 hours of television, 0.62 hours watching videocassettes, 0.41 hours playing computer games, and 2.34 hours listening to the radio) brought about symptoms of depression when compared to those who avoided or had less access to media outlets.   When re-interviewed in their homes seven years later, 7.4% of the teens reported symptoms consistent with depression.

Go to Ask a Counselor to find out how to help your teen break the cycle of “too much media.”