posted September 18, 2007 12:59 AM         

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Computers are slowly becoming an integral part of the human experience. Their growing universality and omnipresence is due to the advent of miniaturization and micro fabrication, two advances that made the home computer a reality. This revolutionary tool was accompanied by the need for people to operate them as well as program and create the necessary tools to make the computers useful to the common person, increasing productivity of the marketplace by several orders. Yet, it would seem the remarkable gains these computers have brought with them have not come without a price, they also came with a new Pandora's box of problems.

The problems that stemmed from computer usage have traditionally been only simple physical problems that arose from repetitive tasks and overuse, such as carpal tunnel syndrome and eyestrain. The computer was quickly implicated in these cases, and many had little trouble accepting that fact. It was perhaps the simplicity of the treatment of these ailments, such as better typing posture, more ergonomic keyboards, or a radiation guard for the monitor, that lead people to feel that these problems were insignificant in comparison to the betterment of society through the use of computers. It would be other problems that proved more problematic to attribute to computer usage. One such problem was, and still is, the mood disorder of depression.

Depression refers to the more serious mood disorder of major depression, sometimes referred to as unipolar disorder, where it is not simply just a passing mood in which people often refer to when things are not going well for them. It is a more pressing illness currently afflicting about five percent of the adult population in the United States in which the patient suffers from a lack of incentive to do much activity, recreational or otherwise (Kalat 1999). Clinically, major depression, as defined in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders IV (DSM-IV), is the occurrence of at least five of nine symptoms of which cause a serious disruption in the daily activities of the afflicted individual. The two most important of these symptoms are depressed mood and blunted interest or enjoyment of previously enjoyed activities, these being the two criteria of which at least one must be present to make a diagnosis of depression. Other symptoms include disturbed sleep patterns, guilt and self-reproach, decreased energy, decreased concentration, increased or decreased appetite, psychomotor agitation or retardation, and suicidal thoughts.

Neurobiologically, depression has manifested itself through serotonergic function and a decrease in that functionality (Mann 1999). Research has shown repeatedly that one of the effective ways to treat depression is through drug therapy, increasing the amount of serotonin in the synaptic cleft, whether it is by increasing release of serotonin or by blocking its reuptake into the synapse. However, serotoneric systems are not exclusively responsible, as drugs that do no effect serotonergic systems are also effective in relieving symptoms of depression (Nemeroff 1998). Among the better known drugs for depression are the second-generation anti-depressants, such as Prozac. They are all selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRI), and differ radically in structure from their predecessors trycyclic anti-depressants (TCA) and monoamine oxidase inhibitors (MAO). Additionally, since they only affect serotonin reuptake, many of the side effects that occurred in the use of MAOs and TCAs are absent.

There have not been many different studies attributing computer use to depression. Recently however, in a the study conducted at Carnegie Mellon University, researchers found not only a correlation between Internet usage and a lowered sense of psychological well-being, but also that there were grounds for causation as well. Paradoxically, with the push towards universal e-mail, widespread use of the web, and use of public newsgroups, Internet usage has always been considered one of the greatest social tools for closing the distances between people. More specifically, the Internet has allowed for many users to associate with others, not so much along the lines of geography or isolation caused by illness or schedule, but of ideas and interests (Kraut 1998). This fact was evident to the researchers, and the results of the study were termed "counter-intuitive" by one of the study's co-authors when asked to comment.

The study itself was a two-year longitudinal study conducted in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. Researchers tracked the behavior of 169 participants over the course of the two years, quantitatively measuring Internet usage throughout. The sample was drawn from 93 families in eight "diverse" neighborhoods. Diverse in this sense being a very subjective term since the authors did not clarify or qualify that statement with the criteria that separated these neighborhoods. Although consent forms and application forms were used, the researchers' original sample was preserved by the fact that at least 900f those contacted within each neighborhood consented to participate in the study. All participants were of those households that did not already have active Internet connections and were offered free connections to the Internet for the duration. Those that did not already know how to use the Internet were given free introductory courses on how to use the more basic function such as email. This selection process was to insure that all participants were relatively new to the Internet and all the data produced from the study were consequently first experiences. Additionally, to quantify "social involvement and psychological well-being" participants were given questionnaires that asked questions such as, "estimate the number of minutes you spend each day communicating with each member of the household." The surveys were distributed before granting access to the Internet and after twelve months, or twenty-four months depending on how long the participants remained in the study, reassessing their social involvement after having the connection to the Internet for all that time.

The research in the study focused on three aspects of psychological well being, loneliness, depression, and stress. By drawing from existing surveys such as the UCLA Loneliness Scale (Version 2) for loneliness, and the Kanner, Coyne, Schaefer, and Lazarus' (1981) Hassles Scale for stress, researchers were able to qualify their results using previously authenticated questions and surveys. Then through a systematic comparison of the questionnaires between the beginning and the end of the experiment, the researchers determined that the differences in mood were significant enough that it was beyond simply random chance. They declared, in rather broad sounding terms, that the Internet, and therefore computers, is detrimental to our psychological health.

While the results of the study may come as no surprise for some, one must take into account that there is a hindsight bias that can be attributed to such claims, and that this study, while published in accredited journals, was not without its criticisms. Many critics of the study are quick to point out two major flaws, the lack of a control group and the lack of random sampling. These are very serious flaws indeed, for they contradict the teachings of the scientific method, a tenet to scientific advance. Yet Robert Kraut, co-author of the Carnegie Mellon study, was reported to have said in defense, "In 1995, we did start with a control group, but it was very hard to keep it, with little in the way of incentives for them to continue to fill out questionnaires. And we couldn't use random sample because of the nature of the study's design - we wanted to include groups who already had social connections with each other so we could observe some shifting, if it was going to occur, between existing social relationships." And despite his somewhat meager defense, Robert Kraut continues to claim that the results are widely applicable. In the paper, he and his co-authors admit to all the flaws the critics harp upon.

Although the evidence is strong that using the Internet caused declines in social participation and psychological well-being within this sample, we do not know how generalizable the finds are across people, time or outcomes. The sample examined here was selected to be diverse, but it was small and not statistically representative of any particular geographic region or population.

The question is then, of how applicable are those findings. It would seem that the issue is not so much of coming to the defense of the Internet, as many see the critics of the study doing, but rather if the experimental choices validate the study.

While the Internet garnered such attention, much farther from the spotlight but also implicated in the depression caused by computer usage, was the issue of depleting the reservoir of negative ions in the human body. Apparently, the average computer monitor emits large quantities of positive ions, causing computer users who spend hours everyday in front of a computer monitor, to develop a negative ion deficiency of the body. This consequently leads to depression, reduced mental function, and stress among other symptoms. This is known at least unofficially as video operators distress syndrome (VODS). Negative ion depletion has also been implicated in seasonal affective disorder (SAD), a mood disorder that is similar to major depression except that it follows a corresponding seasonal pattern (Terman 1998). This has been explained in that the predominant negative ion in the atmosphere is the oxygen, and during the winter months, when negative ions become trapped as snow, there is less atmospheric oxygen.

Having pinpointed the problem so specifically, some people have taken steps to rectify their deficiency and some studies have shown it to be effective. A recent study in 1998, has shown that a high density negative ion generator to be as effective in treating seasonal affective disorder as more traditional treatments such as second generation anti-depressants like Prozac. This is particularly exciting since it would eliminate the amount of side effects that occur when taking selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors, which despite being a drastic improvement over monoamine oxidase inhibitors and trycyclic anti-depressants, still have a few side effects. Additionally, in a much older study done in 1981, at California State University, Sacramento, they found that the introduction of a negative ion generator reduced subjective complaints of headache, dizziness, and nausea (Hawkins 1981). Studies with animals show similar results. As early as 1935, albino rats were bombarded with negative ions in scientific studies and found to perform better at solving puzzles such as mazes, showing increased activity as measured by time on a wheel.

In contrast, there have also been some studies on negative ions on mood in which no effects were observed, though fewer. Specifically there was a study performed on manic patients, but the effect was unknown being that the patients fell asleep during the procedure. The resulting calmness had been confounded by the sleep. The results were unclear as to whether the sleep or the negative ions that actually reduced the manic tendencies (Misiaszek 1987).

It is thus disconcerting to think then perhaps sitting in front of a computer for long hours is detrimental to one's health. Whether it is from a monitor spewing positive ions at my face, or from the removed social contact as I write this paper, is the resulting decreased psychological well being from writing the paper, or the long hours in front of my computer? Blaming the computer is a convenient excuse, yet it at the same time it would seem it is not conducive to one's health after all.

posted September 18, 2007 02:46 AM         

Personally, use of the internet/computers excites me and makes me HAPPY. It opens so many new doors for research, knowledge, and friendships that otherwise I would have had no access to.

It really helps me to relax at times when I am under stress. I am more social with my friends and famiy on a daily basis by sharing topics and interests I've discovered online. I play educational games with my children on the computer as well as watch movies with them.

This is of course, only my personal experience. I cannot speak for others.

Thank you for an interesting topic

posted September 18, 2007 03:32 AM         

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Personally, use of the internet/computers excites me and makes me HAPPY. It opens so many new doors for research, knowledge, and friendships that otherwise I would have had no access to.

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Moonie says the same, and computer bring in money for me too (job).

posted September 18, 2007 04:52 PM         

I also relax playing online games and we do our banking etc. through the computer.

It has it's negatives like all other things in life.

posted September 19, 2007 01:16 AM         

interesting indeed!

BlueRoamer -how do you feel its effects?

posted September 19, 2007 04:18 PM         

No, I am glad computers are not a big part of my daily living. I did cut down on virus risks considerably, simply by using Internet cafes instead of having a home connection. And I also no longer have a husband who totally decides to f**k up the computer under the guise of being "useful" or supposedly "defragmenting"!! (Plus, he used to spend 16 hours a day playing computer GAMES!!)

posted September 19, 2007 05:54 PM         

Are old monitors worse than modern?

I heard that certain plants are good at absorbing electromagnetic pollution.

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It would be nice to evolve some sort of telethapy of the heart; empathy. A feeling, knowing inside how we are all interconnected. Empathy/ love would be a a law unto itself.

posted September 19, 2007 06:28 PM         

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On the other hand, if you've ever met a physically disabled person whose primary social outlet is the internet, then taking that away would probably be devastating. For those people the internet provides a level of equality they may not be able to achieve in the physical realm.

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posted September 20, 2007 03:20 AM         

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it's a magnet, just like the TV, don't fool yourself, neither is needed, if you are connected to God!

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I can agree to an extent here Lotus, but it is NOT the needs BUT the wants that creates problems. Needs are natural, but wants are not. Balance balance and mastery over emotions.

posted September 20, 2007 03:46 AM         

It is just another tool - if people misuse, it is their onus!

posted September 20, 2007 03:51 AM         

Hey! I don't even own a TV
It stresses me out.
But, yes- the computer for me is really a necessity.