Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jul 19, 2025

A New Method for Inducing a Depression-Like Behavior in Rats
Published on: February 22, 2018
I feel addicted to watching TV series: association between binge-watching and mental health
Francesca Favieri1, Giuseppe Forte1, Renata Tambelli1
1Department of Dynamic, Clinical Psychology and Health, "Sapienza" University of Rome, Rome, Italy.
Background:
Binge-watching (BW) is the consecutive viewing of three or more episodes of the same series in one sitting. Although some negative effects on mental health were evidenced, the continuum of BW from leisure activity to problematic behavior is still unclear. This study aimed to analyze mental health (depression, trait anxiety, social anxiety, impulsivity, alexithymia) of people involved in different expressions of BW.
Methods:
A cross-sectional survey collected data from 482 respondents. According to a validated BW questionnaire, participants were divided into Problematic BW, Moderate BW, Non-BW, and No-viewer, and differences between groups were tested on psychological dimensions assessed via standardized questionnaires evaluating: trait and social anxiety, depression, impulsivity, and emotional dysregulation.
Results:
An association between problematic BW and worse mental health conditions was evidenced, and a positive effect of non-problematic BW was supported. A negative linear trend from the BW as a leisure activity to problematic BW was marked, indicating how a possible maladaptive behavior orientation of BW in specific mental health conditions could be figured out as a behavioral addiction.
More Related Videos
Related Concept Videos
Binge Eating Disorders
Stress and Mental Health
Individuals with depression often experience challenges in both their personal and professional...
Bulimia Nervosa
Stress Prevention and Stress Management Techniques IV
Bipolar Disorder
Factors Affecting Illness
For instance, risk factors are connected to illness,...

