The development of the Problematic Series WatchingScale (PSWS)

Area of Science:

• Psychology
• Media Studies
• Behavioral Science

Background:

• The rise of online streaming platforms has led to increased series consumption.
• Concerns exist regarding potential negative impacts of excessive series watching on well-being.
• No validated scale previously existed to specifically measure problematic series watching behavior.

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop and validate a concise scale for assessing problematic series watching.
• To identify key components of problematic series watching based on existing theoretical models.

Main Methods:

• Development of the Problematic Series Watching Scale (PSWS) based on Griffiths' six-component model.
• Confirmatory factor analyses were conducted on two independent samples (N1 = 366, N2 = 752).
• Statistical analysis to examine associations between scale scores and demographic/behavioral variables.

Main Results:

• The PSWS demonstrated an appropriate factor structure and adequate reliability.
• Series watching time, but not free time, was significantly associated with PSWS scores.
• Women reported higher scores on the PSWS compared to men.

Conclusions:

• The PSWS is a reliable and valid tool for measuring problematic series watching.
• Further research is warranted to explore the long-term health and psychosocial consequences of excessive series consumption.
• Understanding problematic series watching is increasingly relevant in the digital age.