Using Multiple Forms of Media At Once Correlates With Depression, Anxiety

pigrabbitbear writes "A new study (abstract) from Michigan State University shows that media multitasking exhibits a strong correlation with social anxiety and depression. Importantly, the direction of causality remains to be seen: Does multi-tasking make us more anxious and depressed? Or, as the study's leader, Mark W. Becker, an assistant professor of psychology, put it in an email, 'are depressed and anxious [people] turning toward media multitasking as a form of distraction?' The results of this study aren't conclusive in that regard, he says. But they're an important step. 'While that question will not be easy to answer, it is worth pursing because the practical implications of the findings depend on the causal direction,' he said."

Re: Also called "multiple-tab syndrome"

[Dupple]

Watching old Dr Whofrom the 80's and commenting on /. From my phone. I wouldn't say I'm depressed, but that behaviour is pretty sad!

What? No Invalid Causation?

[edibobb]

It's really nice to see an article on correlation without invalid conclusions of causation. This means that /. readers are more scientifically literate than the rest of the world.

Re: Also called "multiple-tab syndrome"

[Dupple]

Trial of a time lord - Colin baker. My only defence is Peri

Re:Depression causes multitasking

[sinij]

Research shows that long-term even blind and quadriplegic people report average happiness. If we extrapolate these findings to your facebook predicament -it is likely that in the long run you will adapt to having your mother as the only facebook friend and will return to average happiness.

Re:Depression causes multitasking

[macbeth66]

You must be really be depressed if your own mother won't friend you.