Potential link between binge-watching TV & depression and feelings of loneliness
Anyone who has ever watched Orange is the New Black or Breaking Bad knows the appeal of binge-watching and is probably guilty of binge-watching on more than one occasion. Most of us think that the only damage that comes from binge-watching TV are tired eyes & a detachment from time, but a new study may show reveal a link between binge-watching TV and Depression.
Yoon Hi Sung, Eun Yeon Kang and Wei-Na Lee from the University of Texas at Austin conducted a survey on the TV viewing habits of over 300 18 – 29 year olds. Each subject was asked:
- How often they watched TV
- How often they had feelings of depression & loneliness
- How often they engaged in binge-watching
Those who have engaged in binge-watching before are familiar with what it is, but for those uninitiated; binge-watching is a growing trend amongst young TV viewers, where viewers typically consume vast amounts of a single TV show in one sitting (or over multiple long sittings). This type of viewing has been greatly influenced by on-demand video services like Netflix, YouTube and illegal streaming sites. Users on these websites load episodes/videos into a queue, creating large lists of unwatched content. These queues (when activated by the user) allow for continuous play of unwatched content; which often leads to binge-watching habits.
The study found that the more lonely and depressed a subject reported feeling, the more likely they were to engage in binge-watching. The study also found that many viewers who engaged in binge-watching felt it was difficult for them to stop binge-watching once started. This inability to control their binge-watching existed, even when the subjects were aware of other tasks they had to complete.
Psychological factors such as loneliness, depression, and self-regulation deficiency have been known for some time as important indicators of other binge behaviours. As an example, people who engage in addictive behaviours sometimes do so to temporarily forget about their feelings of loneliness and depression. An individual's lack of self-regulation is also has an effect on the intensity of their addictive behaviour.
"Even though some people argue that binge-watching is a harmless addiction, findings from our study suggest that binge-watching should no longer be viewed this way,"
– Yoon Hi Sung
Now it is very important for us to state that this research is preliminary, and will remain so, until it is has been published in a peer-review journal. This study may reinforce the old adage ‘everything in moderation’, however it doesn't assert a causal link between depression and binge-watching. At this stage, there is not enough empirical research into the effects of binge-watching to draw any definitive answers. As such, this study should be taken with a grain a salt.
Whether this study stands up to peer-review or not, we believe that 'everything in moderation' is generally good advice and watching TV should be no exception. If you have trouble with addictive behaviours, depression or any mental illness; there is always help available. If you want to speak to a caring counsellor about a psychological concern you have, we at AB Consultation and Counselling Service are here to help.
Source: SOURCE: International Communication Association, news release, Jan. 29, 2015