Avoiding the negative effects of browsing on mental health👩‍⚕️

A new study conducted by researchers from University College London has revealed the impact of browsing negative content on mental health.

The study shows that people with mental health problems are more likely to constantly consume this type of content, which exacerbates their symptoms. It also shows that the relationship between mental health and browsing behavior on the Internet is a causal and bidirectional relationship.

Professor Tali Sharot, who co-authored the study, said: "Our results show that browsing negative content does not only reflect a person's mood, but can also exacerbate it. This vicious cycle of negative browsing can continue for a long time and negatively affect mental health."

The study was based on the answers of more than 1,000 participants about their mental health, in addition to analyzing their Internet browsing records.

Individuals with mood problems or mental health symptoms tended to browse more negative content, which exacerbated their negative feelings after browsing.

In another part of the experiment, the researchers directed some participants to visit sites containing negative content, while others were exposed to neutral content.

The results showed that those who browsed negative content reported a deterioration in their mood, indicating that negative content has a direct effect on mood.

When participants were allowed to browse the Internet freely after this experiment, those who were exposed to negative content chose to browse more of this type of content, confirming that the relationship between mental health and negative browsing is bidirectional: content affects mood, and bad moods lead people to consume more negative content.

In a subsequent step, the researchers added content tags to Google search results, similar to those used to classify foods, that tell users whether the content will improve or worsen their mood. The results showed that participants were more likely to choose content that was rated positive, and when asked about their mood afterwards, those who viewed positive content felt better.

As a result of this experiment, the researchers developed a free browser extension that allows Google search results to be sorted by the content’s effect on mood, helping users make healthier decisions while browsing the internet.

This study highlights the need to be aware of the impact of negative content on mental health, and provides a new tool that could help individuals improve their online choices and reduce the impact of harmful content on their mental health.

The study was published in the journal Nature Human Behaviour.

Source: Medical Express - https://ar.rt.com/yr8o Published on 24-11-2024