Sadness, Suicide, and Their Association with Video Game and Internet Overuse among Teens: Results from the Youth Risk Behavior Survey 2007 and 2009

2011/04/04 by Erick Messias, Juan Castro, Juan Lirio Castro +4 · 2 citations
Social Sciences · #Child Development and Digital Technology #Impact of Technology on Adolescents #Social Media and Politics

paper · doi:10.1111/j.1943-278x.2011.00030.x

openalex publication_date 2011/04/04 · openalex created_date 2025/10/10 · openalex updated_date 2026/07/28

Abstract

We investigated the association between excessive video game/Internet use and teen suicidality. Data were obtained from the 2007 and 2009 Youth Risk Behavior Survey (YRBS), a high school-based, nationally representative survey (N = 14,041 and N = 16,410, respectively). Teens who reported 5 hours or more of video games/Internet daily use, in the 2009 YRBS, had a significantly higher risk for sadness (adjusted and weighted odds ratio, 95% confidence interval = 2.1, 1.7-2.5), suicidal ideation (1.7, 1.3-2.1), and suicide planning (1.5, 1.1-1.9). The same pattern was found in the 2007 survey. These findings support an association between excessive video game and Internet use and risk for teen depression and suicidality.

Citations

• Measuring problem video game playing in adolescents

Cited by

• Neuropsychological Deficits in Disordered Screen Use Behaviours: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis
• Social Media and Suicide: A Public Health Perspective

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