A recent study featured in the Archives of Pediatrics and Adolescent Medicine found an association between clinical depression in teens and listening to music.
Data was collected about the pre-teens and teens’ activities for five weeks. The research group reported in real time whether they were using the Internet, watching TV or movies, listening to music, playing video games or reading print material (books and magazines).
Individuals with depression were more likely to be immersed in music, as opposed to the other media. While teens who read books were less likely to be depressed.
So what should you conclude from the study?
Probably nothing.
It’s a chicken or the egg argument. Did the depression cause the teens to immerse themselves in music, or did the music cause the teens to be depressed? (Most likely the former, in my opinion.)
One thing that we can learn from the study is to look out for changes in your teens’ behavior, paying particular attention to extremes. If all of sudden, your child is listening to their iPod for five or six hours a day, they may have a problem. It may not necessarily be depression, but may be an issue that needs to be addressed.
Wow Kori, thanks for sharing!