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Less screen time and more sleep critical for preventing depression

westernsydney.edu.au

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Re: Less screen time and more sleep critical for preventing depression

#101

Post by PragmaticPulp »

dkersten wrote: post #32

I love how a lot of commenters are redefining “screen time” to suit their opinions or otherwise rationalise their screen time, rather than taking the study as is. I mean, sure, perhaps different types of screen time have different impact and this requires further study, but using anecdotes and opinions isn’t that.

People are very resistant to the idea that something they enjoy could be bad for them. Instead, they tend to rationalize their own use as good while looking for ways to conclude that others' use is bad.

The same thing happens with social media. It's fascinating to watch people bash social media on their chosen social media platform, under the assumption that social media is some other website that they don't use. That's why Reddit and Twitter full of people bragging they've deleted Facebook, for example. It's also interesting to watch the mental gymnastics people use to claim that the Hacker News comment section is somehow not social media for vague reasons (pseudonymous, moderated, technical niche, not mainstream enough) while ignoring the fact that we're all here posting content and up/downvoting it like the other social media platforms.

Re: Less screen time and more sleep critical for preventing depression

#102

Post by bosie »

sneak wrote: post #67
aaaxyz wrote: post #34

Earlier quoted context omitted.

If you're spending a lot of time reading, I'd suggest getting something work an e-ink display. It's much easier on the eyes

I significantly prefer backlighting for reading. To me, an iPad is way better than a printed book. For some reason, light-emitting is easier for my eyes.

How about a ebook reader that has a light built in? I also dislike reading printed books due to the lighting issues but much prefer a kindle oasis over my ipad.

Re: Less screen time and more sleep critical for preventing depression

#103

Post by eikenberry »

I made it as far as this quote (which is from the paper) "higher frequency of alcohol consumption was surprisingly associated", which then opened the question as to whether the researchers had pre-determined their results and fit the data to them. Researchers expressing surprise at the results in a study I take as a sign of bias.

Re: Less screen time and more sleep critical for preventing depression

#104

Post by nippoo »

I honestly think (for me, at least) the implied causation is the wrong way round here. When I'm feeling sad, I tend to be unmotivated and liable to spend more time / all day on my phone. When I'm feeling great, I'm generally motivated to go outside / do DIY / read / have a lot less screen time. I initially spent lots of effort trying to reduce my screen time (parental controls, etc) before realising that it was probably an indicator, not a cause!

Re: Less screen time and more sleep critical for preventing depression

#105

Post by kayodelycaon »

W4ldi wrote: post #94
brudgers wrote: post #71

Depression is not a lifestyle choice. Our eating, exercise, sleep, etc. are habits developed over a lifetime. Chronic health issues, sexual abuse, traumatic death of a loved one, and bad luck are what to avoid. And of course some formulations of brain chemistry. Casting depression as a lifestyle issue is a step backward. Mental health is already stigmatized far too much. Depression is not a moral failing of will powe…

The more I think about this comment, the more it just seems so wrong. Yes, depression is not always caused by lifestyle, but it definitely can be. What you are saying just sounds like an excuse for taking the easy path. If trying to change your lifestyle to fix your mental health is a bad thing, what is your counter suggestion? Taking pills that make you addicted, not solve the problem and make everything worse if yo…

The vast majority of mental health issues is caused by a lack of virtue?

Sure. General issues, maybe. Actual clinical diagnoses? Absolutely not. Yet you decide to paint both with the same brush. there are 3+ million diagnosed bipolar people in the US. Clinal depression, anxiety, and ADHD rates are higher. This is not a mere “minority”. There are significant numbers of people with chronic mental health problems.

The attitude people have towards mental health is horrible. The first assumption is always that the person with the issue is at fault and it’s up to them to convince any given person they meet that person’s bar for not being at fault for their problems. Even if you meet that bar, they still treat you like shit.

Re: Less screen time and more sleep critical for preventing depression

#107

Post by SippinLean »

dkersten wrote: post #32

I love how a lot of commenters are redefining “screen time” to suit their opinions or otherwise rationalise their screen time, rather than taking the study as is. I mean, sure, perhaps different types of screen time have different impact and this requires further study, but using anecdotes and opinions isn’t that.

It was specifically "sedentary screen time" defined as the total "hours per week, adding together the participants’ answers to the questions:

1. "In a typical DAY, how many hours do you spend watching TV?" and

2. "In a typical DAY, how many hours do you spend using a computer? (not including time using a computer at work)"

Re: Less screen time and more sleep critical for preventing depression

#108

Post by theuri »

For anyone interested in this thread - "The Upward Spiral" is a related book worth reading, that dives into both the neuroscience of depression and practical steps to work one's way out of it. https://www.amazon.com/Upward-Spiral-Neuroscience-Reverse-De...

Re: Less screen time and more sleep critical for preventing depression

#109

Post by philosopher1234 »

dkersten wrote: post #97
bananabiscuit wrote: post #36

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Isn’t it pretty obvious not all screen time is the same? If it was then you could do these studies with people staring at simple glowing white rectangles and get identical results.

My comment wasn't meant to agree or disagree with these statements, just to comment on how I find it interesting that people are making assumptions or defining screen time to suit their own opinions. As for whether its obvious: maybe, but there are many cases where something seems obvious (certainly to laypeople in the subject) but that are actually flat out wrong. So, as someone who hasn't studied these things, I sa…

we can only think things when a double blind study of 100 people on average think them. we are all excatly the mean of N>100 other people, and anyone who believes otherwise is mistaken.

Re: Less screen time and more sleep critical for preventing depression

#110

Post by Florin_Andrei »

nippoo wrote: post #104

I honestly think (for me, at least) the implied causation is the wrong way round here. When I'm feeling sad, I tend to be unmotivated and liable to spend more time / all day on my phone. When I'm feeling great, I'm generally motivated to go outside / do DIY / read / have a lot less screen time. I initially spent lots of effort trying to reduce my screen time (parental controls, etc) before realising that it was proba…

You're highlighting the feedback mechanism that this disease uses to maintain itself. The spiral of doom.

Any attempt to break it is beneficial, though it may feel like the opposite is happening.

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