Netflix and ill? Study links binge-watching to to loneliness

By Stephen Beech

Binge-watching addicts are more likely to be lonely, according to new research.

Ploughing through episode after episode of TV shows such as "Breaking Bad" and "Succession" might stem from seeking escapism and emotional enhancement, say scientists.

The COVID-19 pandemic led to many people staying indoors and watching far more box sets, triggering concerns about mental health.

Now, while most have resumed daily activities, some people binge-watch to the point of addiction -experiencing obsession, increases in TV consumption, and negative impacts on daily life.

To understand how binge-watching addiction might be related to loneliness, researchers surveyed 551 adults who were classified as big consumers of box sets, watching TV series for at least 3.5 hours per day and seeing more than four episodes per week.

Participants were asked questions to assess addictive behavior, loneliness and their motives for binge-watching.

Of the survey respondents, 334 (61%) met the criteria for binge-watching addiction.

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Study co-author Dr. Xiaofan Yue said: "Among these respondents, increased loneliness was significantly correlated with higher levels of binge-watching addiction and loneliness, while those participants who did not meet the addiction criteria did not show the same association."

The research team suspected that binge-watching addicts might have specific mindsets and motivations, distinct from participants who also watched a lot of TV but without any addiction.

When the researchers examined the motives for binge-watching addiction, they found an association between loneliness and both escapism and emotional enhancement motivations.

They say that suggests that binge-watching addicts might be engaging both in the avoidance of negative situations as well as seeking to boost positive emotions.

The research team suggest that people experiencing higher levels of loneliness, seeking emotional fulfillment, or using binge-watching as an escape mechanism are more likely to show binge-watching addiction.

They say the study, published in the journal PLOS One, could only show an association between addictive binge-watching and loneliness, with further research needed to determine if loneliness drives it.

Dr. Yue, of Huangshan University in China, said: "The findings suggest the possibility that some individuals might try to cope with social disconnection by increasing their media consumption to the point of binge-watching addiction."

Co-author Dr Xin Cui added: “This study advances our understanding of binge-watching by differentiating between addictive and non-addictive forms, demonstrating that loneliness significantly predicts binge-watching addiction, while escapism and emotional enhancement serve as dual pathways of emotion regulation.”