Is Your Teen Watching Too Much TV?

Teens are at increased risk of depression depending on the amount of time spent watching TV or playing computer games online. Results from a 7-year national study show an 8% increase in depression risk for every hour spent watching TV and 5% for all electronic media. As parents we all say, "It couldn't happen to my child." But a recent study shows there may be some early warning signs of depression in teens.

The study examined 4, 142 students in middle and high schools who were not depressed at the beginning of the study. Over the seven years the researcher noticed a pattern of higher rates of depression developed in teens with a higher rate of watching TV or playing online games. The rate of depression was more common with boys than girls.

Having more teen boys with depression rather than girls surprised the researchers who expected girls to show more evidence of depression than boys especially with the media emphasis of "unattainably thin and unblemished" body image of females.

The researchers results showed watching an increased amount of TV led to an increased incidence of depression, but on follow up increased use of computer games did not consistently increase the risk of symptoms of depression.

For a parent, what does this mean?

The researchers suggest TV's influence on depression may be caused by "lack of sleep, anxiety provoking content" and inability to be the people they see in television programs. Getting more sleep, and monitoring or regulating the specific programs our sons watch may be more important than we know.

As parents there is always the importance of providing good role models for our children. We can also monitor the expectations and hopes of our children. Helping our children set realistic goals is one way we can help our children grow. That's not to say, we should crush their dreams and aspirations.

On the contrary, we can offer them alternative suggestions or ways of investigating and pursuing their goals. Those ways can include time away from the TV and computer meeting and talking with people and involved in other activities.

Keep communication open. Don't be afraid to show and talk about your concern, support and love. When your child does talk, take their concerns seriously. A fight with a friend or a bad grade can be very important in the life of a teen. If your teen isn't comfortable talking with you suggest another person. The other person could be a clergy member, school counselor or relative.

When a teen has a supportive network of friends, family and activities teens handle everyday frustrations with fewer difficulties . Without the support the teen may feel isolated and alone. With the isolation and depression a teen can begin to think of suicide as a way out. Suicide is the third-leading cause of death for 15- to 24-year-olds, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).

When does watching TV become a warning sign of potential depression? Although not definite it seems boys who are attracted to watching TV rather than interacting with friends or being involved with their families have a higher risk of depression. The study doesn't definitely prove watching TV causes depression. It actually raises more questions. Do boys have an increased tendency to absorb the views of TV programming which can lead to depression? Or do boys who watch a lot of TV just not have the social skills and interactions to balance out their depression tendencies?

As a parent it means being aware of our child's activities. When the majority of time is spent in front of a computer or TV screen, it means encouraging other activities. If we start to notice symptoms of depression we need to find professional help for our child. Depression is not just a phase in children.