Occupational and Environmental Medicine, Sahlgrenska School of Public Health and Community Medicine, University of Gothenburg, Gothenburg, Sweden.
BMC Public Health. 2010 Feb 12;10:66. doi: 10.1186/1471-2458-10-66.
Prospective associations have been found between high use of information and communication technology (ICT) and reported mental symptoms among young adult university students, but the causal mechanisms are unclear. Our aim was to explore possible explanations for associations between high ICT use and symptoms of depression, sleep disorders, and stress among young adults in order to propose a model of possible pathways to mental health effects that can be tested epidemiologically.
We conducted a qualitative interview study with 16 women and 16 men (21-28 years), recruited from a cohort of university students on the basis of reporting high computer (n = 28) or mobile phone (n = 20) use at baseline and reporting mental symptoms at the one-year follow-up. Semi-structured interviews were performed, with open-ended questions about possible connections between the use of computers and mobile phones, and stress, depression, and sleep disturbances. The interview data were analyzed with qualitative content analysis and summarized in a model.
Central factors appearing to explain high quantitative ICT use were personal dependency, and demands for achievement and availability originating from the domains of work, study, social life, and individual aspirations. Consequences included mental overload, neglect of other activities and personal needs, time pressure, role conflicts, guilt feelings, social isolation, physical symptoms, worry about electromagnetic radiation, and economic problems. Qualitative aspects (destructive communication and information) were also reported, with consequences including vulnerability, misunderstandings, altered values, and feelings of inadequacy. User problems were a source of frustration. Altered ICT use as an effect of mental symptoms was reported, as well as possible positive effects of ICT on mental health.
The concepts and ideas of the young adults with high ICT use and mental symptoms generated a model of possible paths for associations between ICT exposure and mental symptoms. Demands for achievement and availability as well as personal dependency were major causes of high ICT exposure but also direct sources of stress and mental symptoms. The proposed model shows that factors in different domains may have an impact and should be considered in epidemiological and intervention studies.
已有研究发现，在年轻的成年大学生中，高频率地使用信息和通信技术（ICT）与报告的精神症状之间存在前瞻性关联，但因果机制尚不清楚。我们的目的是探索高频率使用 ICT 与年轻人抑郁、睡眠障碍和压力等精神症状之间关联的可能解释，以便提出一个可以通过流行病学进行测试的心理健康影响的可能途径模型。
我们对 16 名女性和 16 名男性（21-28 岁）进行了定性访谈研究，这些参与者是根据基线时报告的高计算机（n=28）或移动电话（n=20）使用情况以及一年随访时报告的精神症状，从大学生队列中招募的。采用半结构化访谈，提出有关计算机和移动电话使用与压力、抑郁和睡眠障碍之间可能联系的开放式问题。使用定性内容分析对访谈数据进行分析，并以模型形式进行总结。
解释高定量 ICT 使用的核心因素是个人依赖性，以及源自工作、学习、社会生活和个人愿望领域的成就和可用性需求。其后果包括精神负荷过重、忽视其他活动和个人需求、时间压力、角色冲突、内疚感、社会孤立、身体症状、对电磁辐射的担忧和经济问题。还报告了定性方面（破坏性沟通和信息），其后果包括脆弱性、误解、价值观改变和不足感。用户问题是挫折的根源。报告了因精神症状而改变 ICT 使用的情况，以及 ICT 对心理健康可能产生的积极影响。
具有高 ICT 使用和精神症状的年轻人的概念和想法产生了一个可能的途径模型，用于解释 ICT 暴露与精神症状之间的关联。成就和可用性需求以及个人依赖性是高 ICT 暴露的主要原因，也是压力和精神症状的直接来源。所提出的模型表明，不同领域的因素可能会产生影响，应该在流行病学和干预研究中加以考虑。
