We all enjoy binge-watching a fantastic new TV show (Orange is the New Black, anyone?), but what does it say about your mental health if you do it all the time?
According to Cosmo, researchers for the International Communication Association "asked 316 18- to 20-year-olds about their regular TV-show watching and binge-watching habits. Then, they used a questionnaire to assess people's loneliness, depression, and ability to control the urge to watch TV."
Over 75 percent of participants admitted to binge watching their favorite shows (two to six shows in one sitting). On average, more people binge-watched on weekends, and a large majority binge-watched by themselves. 75 percent stopped watching after one to three hours, while 13.5 watched up to five hours. Five people reported that they watched over seven hours or more!
Most people were binge-watching romantic comedies and sitcoms, but many binge-watched popular shows like Orange Is the New Black, Grey's Anatomy, One Tree Hill, Desperate Housewives, and Breaking Bad.
Researchers found that those who binge-watched their favorite TV shows were lonelier, sadder, and had less self-control (i.e., the ability to step away from the the TV) than people who didn't binge-watch at all.
This doesn't necessarily mean that binge-watching TV shows causes loneliness, sadness, or loss of self-control--instead, it suggests that those who do so are most likely to have already felt that way.
There was one warning from the researchers: "The study authors warn that people who feel particularly lonely, depressed, and out of control may be susceptible to addictive TV-watching, which could trigger guilt about watching too much TV at once and suck up so much time that you end up feeling more socially detached — and worse overall."
As long as your binge-watching efforts don't interfere with your social life and general happiness, watch on! Just be sure not to overdo it!
What do you think about this study? Let us know your thoughts in the comments!
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