Net addiction ‘doubles teen self harm’

SYDNEY - High school students who are hooked on to the net are likely to self-harm themselves, according to a new study.

The researchers from the University of Sydney and Notre Dame made the finding after questioning 1618 students aged 13 to 18 from Guangzhou in China.

It was found that one in six reported some form of self-injury in the previous six months like hitting, burning or cutting themselves.

Also, more than one in ten reported moderate or severe internet addiction.

They confessed feeling depressed when they were incapable of accessing the web.

“In recent years, with the greater availability of the internet in most Asian countries, internet addiction has become an increasing mental problem among adolescents,” the Sydney Morning Herald quoted the authors as stating in the study.

It added: “Many studies have reported associations between internet addiction, psychiatric symptoms and depression among adolescents.

“Internet addiction and self-injurious behaviour can both be considered as part of the spectrum of impulse control disorders. All these behaviours may be rooted in some common … factors that require further exploration.”

The researchers clarified that self-harm did not necessarily mean the intent to kill yourself.

The study was published in the journal Injury Prevention. (ANI)