Teens Plus TV Equal Depression?

A new University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine study has concluded that teens who spend long hours in front of the television face a higher risk of depression than their more active counterparts.  Even more alarming, the effects seem to persist.  As much as seven years later, many of the teens were still showing signs of depression.  The same association was also shown with other electronic media. 

Researchers speculate that teens who watch a lot of television may internalize a lot of what they see, leading to feelings of hopelessness and depression. They also may neglect social or athletic activities that might provide more positive experiences. 

More studies need to be done, but parents should definitely make an attempt to limit the time their adolescents spend in front of the tube.  To read more about the study, see Teen TV Time Tied to Adult Depression.

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