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.
How Does Technology
Affect Mental Health?
 1. Sleep Pattern Problems
 2. Depression
 3. Addiction
 4. 24/7 Stress
 5. FOMO “Fear Of Missing Out”
(Owen, 2013)
How Does Technology
Affect Mental Health?
 6. Isolation
 7. Incivility
 8. Insecurity
 9. Anxiety
(Owen, 2013)
(The Anxiety Network, 2014)
Poll
 Poll Everywhere
 Poll 2
How Does Technology
Affect Mental Health?
“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)
How Does Technology
Affect Mental Health?
 “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)
How Does Technology
Affect Mental Health?
 “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)
How Does Technology
Affect Mental Health?
 “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)
How Does Technology
Affect Mental Health?
 “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)
How Does Technology
Affect Mental Health?
 “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
(Soong and Chang, 2008)
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.”
(Soong and Chang, 2008)
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
(Soong and Chang, 2008)
Technology Use Affects
Health
Late Night Texting
Affecting Teens Health
(A News Vancouver Island, 2010)
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)
Excessive Cell Phone and Computer Use
Affects Mental Health 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)
Excessive Cell Phone and Computer Use
Affects Mental Health 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
(Soong and Chang, 2008)
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/howtechnology-impacts-physical-and-emotional-health/
References
Owen, K. (2013). 9 Ways Technology Affects Mental
Health. DoSomething.org. Retrieved from
https://www.dosomething.org/tipsandtools/9ways- 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/overusetechnology-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-healthnegatively-affected-excessive-cellphone-andcomputer-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-internetaddiction/
 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/healthscience/research-finds-link-between-social-media- and-thefear-of-missing-out/2013/07/08/b2cc7ddc-e287-11e2-a11ec2ea876a8f30_story.html