Is binge-watching addictive? Effects of motives for TV series use on the relationship between excessive media consumption and problematic viewing habits

Alexander Ort; D S Wirz; A Fahr

doi:10.1016/j.abrep.2020.100325

Is binge-watching addictive? Effects of motives for TV series use on the relationship between excessive media consumption and problematic viewing habits

Addict Behav Rep. 2020 Dec 13:13:100325. doi: 10.1016/j.abrep.2020.100325. eCollection 2021 Jun.

Authors

Alexander Ort¹, D S Wirz², A Fahr²

Affiliations

¹ Department of Public Health and Medicine, Universität Luzern, Luzern, Switzerland.
² Department of Communication and Media Research, University of Fribourg, Fribourg, Switzerland.

Abstract

This study investigates the circumstances under which binge-watching can become a problematic behavior. Applying a user-centered perspective, it demonstrates how different motivations to engage in high-dosage TV series consumption influence the occurrence of problematic viewing habits. A quantitative online survey of N = 415 media users with access to at least one streaming service was conducted. The questionnaire assessed current viewing habits, motivations to watch series, and indicators of problematic viewing habits. The results suggest that frequency of use, motives to engage in high dosage viewing sessions, as well as the combined effect of these two factors help to explain problematic viewing behaviors. Moreover, the results give cause to refrain from a generalizing problematization of binge-watching.

Keywords: Addiction; Binge-watching; Motives; Problematic viewing behavior; TV series use.