Comparisons of Internet usage characteristics by youth self-reported depressive symptomatology

Ybarra, Michele, Mitchell, Kimberly, & Alexander, Cheryl (2004, October). Comparisons of Internet usage characteristics by youth self-reported depressive symptomatology. Presented at the American Academy of Pediatrics Annual Conference, San Francisco, CA. 

Summary:

This presentation uses data from the Youth Internet Safety Survey to address the question:

What are the characteristics of youth who use the Internet and how do these characteristics vary by depressive symptomatology?

Findings:

1.  One in five youth report the Internet is very or extremely important to them.

2.  Findings suggest a trend towards more youth with major symptomatology perceiving the Internet as important as compared to youth with no symptomatology (p=.07):

          - Major depressive symptomatology: 26%

          - Minor depressive symptomatology: 25%

          - No depressive symptomatology: 19%

3.  Frequency of Internet use does not significantly vary by depressive symptomatology (p>.05), but

4.  Youth with major depressive symptomatology are significantly more likely to report intense use (p<.001).

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