The authors argue that their methods and findings indicate a causal relationship between increased Internet usage, declining social involvement, and worsening psychological states. However, the data cannot establish causality, but can reveal important statistical associations. The potential quality of life impacts of health informatics for individuals and their families are considerable. In their comprehensive review of the literature on the impacts of health informatics on patients, these authors identify only three studies related to the effects of interactive computer-based informatic tools. Although the focus of this integrated overview is on computing technologies and applications, research on the impacts of video games on children is insightful.
Evidence is found for both positive and negative behaviors associated with the use of video games.
Although these time use diaries do not include time spent on computing or the Internet, it may be possible to couple these datasets with others that do. The survey was posted in both English and German. Because it does not allow for intervening environmental variables, it ignores the possibility that greater Internet use could be the consequence of depression, loneliness, and social withdrawal caused by other factors.