Internet addiction a factor in self-injury
Experts define Internet addictions as feelings of depression, nervousness and moodiness when not online. Also, fantasizing or being pre-occupied with being online are signs of addiction.
An Australian/Chinese study published in the journal Injury Prevention, found that teenagers who are addicted to the Internet are more likely to engage in self-harm. Researchers surveyed 1618 teens from thirteen to eighteen in one Chinese province. They were surveyed about behaviors including hitting themselves, pulling their own hair and pinching or burning themselves.
Nomenklatura (Flickr)
Ten percent of the students were modestly addicted to the Internet, while less than one percent were severely addicted. Internet addiction has been classified as a mental health problem since the mid-1990′s. The addiction stands separate from other variables that contribute to self-injury including depression, family dissatisfaction and stressful life events.
For more about Internet addiction take a look at the story of Hughstan Schlicker of Arizona: http://askthejudge.info/teen-myspace-killer-gets-20-years/2562/
This post was written by Tom Jacobs. Judge Tom is the founder and moderator of AsktheJudge.info. He is a retired juvenile judge and spent 23 years on the bench. He has written several books for lawyers and judges as well as teens and parents including the recently published 'Teen Cyberbullying Investigated' (Free Spirit Publishing). When he's not answering teens' questions, Judge Tom can be found hiking, traveling and reading.
