The Effect of Internet and Covid-19 on Mental Health

Abstract

This thesis focuses on the relationship between mental health and various factors, including broadband internet access/use, internet use frequency and purpose, and the impact of lockdown measures on mental health during the COVID-19 pandemic. Chapter One investigates the causal relationship between broadband internet access/use and mental health. Using data from the British Household Panel Survey, the study compares the mental health status of individuals before and after the diffusion of broadband internet in the UK. The findings reveal a differential effect on mental health outcomes for women and men, with positive effects for women and negative effects for men. Chapter Two examines the relationship between mental health and internet use frequency and purpose during the COVID-19 pandemic. Analyzing data from the UK Household Longitudinal Study, the study finds that older individuals have lower internet use frequency. Gender differences are observed, with younger women using the internet for social purposes more than men, and younger men using it for leisure- and-learning purposes more than women and older men. Furthermore, internet use is found to be a protective factor for the mental health outcomes of younger women and a risk factor for the mental health of younger men, influenced by factors such as loneliness. Chapter Three focuses on the impact of lockdown measures on mental health. Drawing on surveys, reviews, and meta-analyses, the study explores the effects of the pandemic on mental health. It also analyzes three notable studies that employ natural experiments, highlighting the detrimental impact of lockdowns on mental health, with varying intensity across different population groups.