Researchers began the study with over 4,000 healthy adolescents, and then followed up after seven years to find that seven percent of them had developed signs of depression. The rate of depression was higher in those who watched TV for more than 9 hours a day, and lower in those who watched less than 3.
I thought that this study would have brought about some valuable information, but Brian Primack, the assistant professor of medicine at the University of Pittsburg, said
We really don’t know what it was specifically about TV exposure that was associated with depression, whether it was a particular kind of programming or some contextual factor such as watching alone or with other people. Therefore, I would be uneasy to make any blanket recommendations based on this one study.To me this study seemed like a complete waste of time. Some adolescents are going to grow up to be depressed, and sitting around all day watching television probably isn't going to help a kid's self esteem. Also, the things that we see on television are often false or glorified images of reality. This can cause an adolescent to become depressed if his life is nothing like his favorite TV shows.
Even though too much TV is bad, I believe that watching TV in moderation can be good for an adolescent. It allows them to watch the same things that other kids their age are watching, giving them common interests with peers to help start conversations and build friendships.
I am all for research on television's effects on humanity and I like to read about studies that have been conducted on the subject. I just hope that next time I click on a link that looks interesting to me it will actually give me some information. Why was this article published?
To me 7 percent over 7 years seems a little slim. I mean it's only 7 percent that doesn't seem very significant. Also it seems like there could have been quite a few variables unaccounted for..such as whether those who became depressed were watching depressing shows, or maybe it happens to be someone who just uses t.v. to fall asleep.. It seems to me like quite a few other variables were over looked. Also couldn't it be that depressed people tend to be more to themselves, leading to an increase in time spent at home as well as television watching? So it may not be that watching television causes depression.
ReplyDeleteThis is the most vague and inconclusive study I have heard of recently. Why did they even bother? If they were going to spend so much effort in a study, they should have been more focused and specific. As it stands, this sounds like it was a big waste of money and time.
ReplyDeleteSo 280 out of 4,000 people had signs of depression after 7 years...out of that some of them watched tv less than three hours a day but didn't show as dramatic signs of depression. This study shows that the people who did the testing were hoping for an easy way to prove tv to be bad and didn't get that answer. It also shows that the New York times couldn't find anything interesting to write about our economic crisis or people in Iraq because this meaningless article held more weight to them. They wonder why there taking a hit and blame it on the news and internet.
ReplyDeleteWow, that study seems to be a complete waste of time and money. I don't believe that watching television has anything to do with depression. I believe that depression is a byproduct of pressure produced by the outside world; not television sitcoms or 'American Idol'. I can't even say that I was ever convinced that this study would produce viable results; so maybe I am just too jaded to comprehend the usefulness of this project. I agree completely with you.
ReplyDeleteI, too, would want to know what TV shows they watched. Starting in a few weeks, I watch (or listen to) 3-4 hours of baseball a night, every night. Depending on how the Sox play, I am happy or sad.
ReplyDeleteKidding aside, the parameters of the study do seem a bit vague and the quantity of its results less than significant. I would also want to know socio-economic status--what kind of person is able to watch nine hours of TV a day? You have to be home quite a bit to do that...
Maybe those who sat at home and watched 9 hours of tv a day showed signs of depression because thats all they wanted to do. Naturally someone who only watches 3 a day is going out, has a life and most likely isn't depressed.
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