Binge-watchers could be hiding from loneliness, research suggests

Beijing (dpa) – Binge-watching, like the binge-drinking from which it gets its name, has long had a bad reputation, carrying associations of idleness, lack of sleep and being antisocial. For this reason, many fans and streaming company PR departments prefer a different, more athletic term: the "marathon." But the negative health association is warranted, according to researchers at China's Huangshan University, who say binge-watchers are likely suffering from loneliness. "Binge-watching addicts might be engaging both in the avoidance of negative situations as well as seeking to boost positive emotions," the China-based team claimed. The researchers followed up on the isolating effects of Covid-19 lockdowns and found that for 60% of people they surveyed, binge-watching turned out to be a form of escapism and a coping mechanism. Meanwhile, people who did not show signs of addiction to TV shows did not report the same feelings of isolation and friendlessness, the team found. While the researchers determined they had found an association between binge-watching and loneliness, they said there was no proof of causation – whether or not loneliness leads to binge-watching. In apaper published in the science journal PLOS One, the team said they did not account for what they termed "other problematic video streaming behaviours" such as via Youtube or Tiktok, the "continuous consumption" of which could constitute a form of binge-watching. The research did not cover whether developing a binge-watching habit could in turn lead to loneliness or isolation. In August last year, a University of Georgia study suggested binge-watching could sharpen memory and enhance the ability to deal with stress. While many shows still release new episodes on a week-by-week basis, many streaming platforms have catered to binge-watching by releasing entire seasons at once, a choice famously made by Netflix in 2013 when launching its first original series, "House of Cards". The following information is not intended for publication dpa spr coh

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