the effects of technology on mental / physical health

The Effects of Technology on

Mental / Physical Health

Kevin Kollai

How Does Technology Affect Mental Health?

The effects are negative when technology is overused.

Technology must be balanced with other aspects of your life in order to remain healthy mentally and physically.


1. Sleep Pattern Problems

2. Depression

3. Addiction

4. 24/7 Stress

5. FOMO “Fear Of Missing Out”

(Owen, 2013)


6. Isolation

7. Incivility

8. Insecurity

9. Anxiety

(Owen, 2013)

(The Anxiety Network, 2014)

Poll

Poll Everywhere

Poll 2

https://www.polleverywhere.com/multiple_choice_polls/RuxkqhKzUSmaFWG

http://www.polleverywhere.com/multiple_choice_polls/wANBBZ2RsL4VNJi


“1. Sleep - Using a laptop, cell phone, or iPad late at night can seriously mess with your sleep patterns and habits, potentially leaving you with a sleep disorder. Late night use is also associated with stress and depressive symptoms.” (Owen, 2013)

“2. Depression – A Swedish study found that participants who felt the need to have their phones constantly accessible were more likely to report depressive mental health symptoms.”

(Owen, 2013)


“3. Addiction – Several studies have actually suggested that the brains of technology abusers develop a certain pattern of change over time. Studies also suggest that the amount of times technology abusers check their gadgets are just enough to trigger the addiction-oriented parts of our brains.” (Owen, 2013)

“4. 24/7 Stress – When we come home from school or work and immediately hop on the internet or turn on the iPad, our brains don’t get the chance to de-stress and unwind from the day’s activities, so our brains get stuck in stress mode 24/7.” (Owen, 2013)


“5. FOMO aka “Fear OF Missing Out” – The popularity of social media and sharing everything has led to this new sensation where everyone from middle schoolers to working adults feel the pressure to attend every event and share every experience. It’s the “is everybody having fun without me?” disease.”

(Owen, 2013)

Feelings associated with FOMO can encourage people to be more socially active. (White, 2013)

Nervousness about not attending social events or being as popular as others, especially for ages 18-33 years (White, 2013)


“6. Isolation – Related to FOMO, excessive technology use can lead to feelings of isolation or the eventual isolation of a person due to so much time spent with technology as opposed to making real connections aka human friends.” (Owen, 2013)

“7. Incivility – Research has shown that with the ascent of internet and technology use, rudeness and incivility on social media sites has also increased. This is bad, as being rude to someone is wrong on its own, but it can also lead to internet bullying. (Owen, 2013)


“8. Insecurity – Kind of like FOMO, social media, and constant access to it through our phones, tablets, and laptops means we are constantly plugged into what everyone is doing all the time. So we are constantly comparing ourselves to everyone else all the time. But what we are seeing is everyone’s glamour shots and our average moments. Not exactly a fair comparison, huh?”

(Owen, 2013)


“9. Anxiety – Social media on our gadgets can give us anxiety about everything from FOMO to fear that our life is not “pinteresting” enough. Surveys have found that women often have anxiety that they are not crafty, creative, or cute enough after using pinterest. Social media can also cause anxiety such as fear of not being successful enough or smart enough with use of sites like Facebook and Twitter.”

9 Ways have been given by Katherine Owen (Owen, 2013)

Internet Addiction Disorder

Internet Addiction Disorder is a newly recognized disorder by the DSM-V (Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Health Disorders).

Symptoms include: Preoccupation with the internet or internet gaming Withdrawal symptoms when the substance (internet) is

taken away or not available Tolerance Loss of other interests Unsuccessful attempts to quit Using the internet to escape or improve a bad mood

(Walton, 2012)

Internet Addiction Disorder

The human brain begins to act differently in structure and function when it becomes addicted.

Internet addiction works on the levels of dopamine and serotonin.

These neurotransmitters are decreased in general, causing depression and are increased when the person is subjected to the internet or other technology as a stimulus.

(Walton, 2012)

Technology / Internet Addiction

About half of people surveyed or interviewed across three studies were found to be positive for technology or internet addiction. (Soong and Chang, 2008)

Being “crazy busy” and stressed out is as harmful to health as obesity and cigarette smoking.

(Soong and Chang, 2008)

59% of smartphone users check every single time an email arrives (Soong and Chang, 2008)

83% of smartphone users check email every day on vacation (Soong and Chang, 2008)

Internet Addiction Related Symptoms

Our bodies need rest.

Staring at computer screens for long periods can cause headaches.

Heart attacks from prolonged or chronic stress

Insomnia from stress and anxiety about needing to be connected


Modern Life

“Researchers from the University of Glascow found that half of the study participants reported checking their email once an hour, while some individuals check up to 30 to 40 times an hour.”


Modern Life – Hallowell

“The great thing about modern life is you can do so much, and the curse of modern life is you can do so much.” -Edward Hallowell, MD


Technology Use Affects Health

Late Night Texting Affecting Teens Health(A News Vancouver Island, 2010)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F7cmf6KKhg8

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F7cmf6KKhg8

Technology in Balance

Your mind needs a break from the constant stress and stimulation that technology, especially social media, brings with it.

Maintaining face-to-face in person social interaction is key for good mental health. (Simpson, 2013)

Overuse of technology can cause high amounts of stress connected with waiting for text responses, receiving unfavorable news on social media such as Facebook, or misunderstanding things that were said or done online.

Relationships and self esteem can be negatively affected by things said online, causing stress, anxiety, and insecurities.

(Simpson, 2013)

Technology in Balance

Technology should make our lives easier, not stressful. (Simpson, 2013)

“Removing negative stress from your life is a major part of mental health.” (Simpson, 2013)

Excessive Cell Phone and Computer Use Affects Mental Health

Negatively

Researchers at the University of Gothenburg in Sweden conducted a study that found a correlation between constant computer use and mental disorders. (Stone, 2012)

The study was of 4,100 Swedish men and women.

The majority of the people who use their cell phones and computers most heavily are at a higher risk than average for experiencing stress, sleeping disorders, and depression.

(Stone, 2012)


Negatively

Sara Thomee, the lead author of the study, said the team found the amount of time devoted to the use of technological devices was the central problem.

(Stone, 2012)

The people who were at the highest risk had situations where it was easy for them to spend more time than they had planned at the computer (working, gaming, chatting). (Stone, 2012)

This would lead to time pressure, neglect of other activities such as social interaction, sleep, and physical activity. (Stone, 2012)


Negatively

Correlation between stress and constant availability via phones (Stone, 2012)

Resulted in “the feeling of never being free and difficulties separating work and private life”

(Stone, 2012)

(Daily Tech, 2014)

Technology Can Cause Stress

(Scientific American, 2014)

Tips For Balancing Technology With Everyday

Life

“Be present!” (Simpson, 2013)

“During class time be present in the moment and participate in activities and engage in conversation.”

(Simpson, 2013)

“Turn off your cell phone.” (Simpson, 2013)

Do not text in class.

(Simpson, 2013)

The Effects of Technology on Physical

Health

Physical Health

Physical health and mental health are not completely separate.

They play off of and balance with each other.

Poor physical health can lead to poor mental health and poor mental health can lead to poor physical health.

Physical Health

It is vital to get up and do something active to stimulate neurotransmitters such as endorphins and serotonin.

These neurotransmitters associated with physical activity combat stress and depression.

The physical activity is also needed to maintain cardiovascular health and keep a whole host of negative physical symptoms at bay.

Excess weight gain, skin sores, low muscle tone, lack of flexibility, and blood clots

Physical Effects

Anxiety raises blood pressure and blood sugar levels.

Chronic stress raises cortisol levels (stress hormone).

Chronic high cortisol levels can lead to weight gain, heart disease, and disrupt the natural balance of the endocrine system in a number or ways.

Endorphins released during exercise can combat and prevent depression.

Physical Effects

Computer Vision Syndrome – burning and irritation from staring at the screen for long periods of time without blinking(Ebben, 2012)

Ergonomic problems with back, neck, and shoulders

Should keep your back and neck straight and your shoulders back. (Ebben, 2012)

Forearms and upper arms should be at a 90 degree angle (Ebben, 2012)

Main Points

All of these mental and physical health problems can be prevented by balancing your technology use with healthy physical activity and healthy in person relationships.

Computers, smart phones, and all our other technology is great, but it will not do us much good if we do not take breaks and recreate our mental and physical health by talking to people in person, cultivating relationships, and getting regular physical activity.

Physical activity should be at least 30 minutes per day, 5 days per week.

Remember…

Modern Life

“The great thing about modern life is you can do so much, and the curse of modern life is you can do so much.” -Edward Hallowell, MD


References

A News Vancouver Island. (2010, November 1). Late

Night Texting Affecting Teens Health. Retrieved

from https://www.youtube.com/watch?

v=F7cmf6KKhg8

The Anxiety Network. (2014). Retrieved from

anxietynetwork.com

Daily Tech. (2014). Retrieved from www.dailytech.com

Ebben, P. (2012). How Technology Impacts Physical And

Emotional Health. CBS Boston Local WBZ. Retrieved

from http://boston.cbslocal.com/2012/02/07/how-

technology-impacts-physical-and-emotional-health/

References

Owen, K. (2013). 9 Ways Technology Affects Mental

Health. DoSomething.org. Retrieved from

https://www.dosomething.org/tipsandtools/9- ways- technology-affects-mental-health

Scientific American. (2014). Retrieved from

www.scientificamerican.com

References

Simpson, K. (2013, May). Is Overuse of Technology

Affecting Mental Health? University of New

Hampshire. Retrieved from http://www.unh.edu/

healthyunh/blogs/2013/05/13/overuse-

technology-affecting-mental-health

Soong, J., Chang, L. (2008). When Technology Addiction

Takes Over Your Life. Mental Health Center.

WebMD. Retrieved from

http://www.webmd.com/mental-health/features/

when-technology-addiction-takes-over-your-life

References

Stone, J. (2012, July). Mental Health Negatively

Affected By Excessive Cellphone And Computer

Use: Study. International Business Times. Retrieved

from http://www.ibtimes.com/mental-health-

negatively-affected-excessive-cellphone-and-

computer-use-study-730100

References

Walton, A.G. (2012, October). Internet Addiction: The New Mental Health Disorder? Forbes. Retrieved

from http://www.forbes.com/sites/alicegwalton/

2012/10/02/the-new-mental-health-disorder-internet-

addiction/

White, J. (2013, July). Research Finds Link Between Social Media and the “Fear of Missing Out”. Health

& Science. The Washington Post. Retrieved from

http://www.washingtonpost.com/national/health-science/research-finds-link-between-social-media- and-the-

fear-of-missing-out/2013/07/08/b2cc7ddc-e287-11e2-a11e-

c2ea876a8f30_story.html