Prevalence and psychological correlates of binge-watching: The digital era of entertainment

Background: Binge-watching refers to watching multiple television series episodes in one sitting. The concept of narratives and the immersive nature of the storyline are highlighted in the binge-watching phenomenon. Binge-watching has been compared with the addiction model, which impacts both mental...

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Main Authors: Maumita Sil, Anwesha Mondal, Manish Kumar
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Wolters Kluwer Medknow Publications 2025-05-01
Series:Industrial Psychiatry Journal
Subjects:
Online Access:https://journals.lww.com/10.4103/ipj.ipj_36_25
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author Maumita Sil
Anwesha Mondal
Manish Kumar
author_facet Maumita Sil
Anwesha Mondal
Manish Kumar
author_sort Maumita Sil
collection DOAJ
description Background: Binge-watching refers to watching multiple television series episodes in one sitting. The concept of narratives and the immersive nature of the storyline are highlighted in the binge-watching phenomenon. Binge-watching has been compared with the addiction model, which impacts both mental and physical health. Different studies in the West have come up with different binge-watch profiles, but in India, the literature on binge-watching is scarce. Aim: The present study aims to explore the prevalence of binge-watching behavior and determine the relationship between binge-watching and the psychological correlates, namely, stress, depression, anxiety, coping styles, and personality traits. Materials and Methods: The current study was conducted online on a community sample consisting of 235 individuals. Binge-watching behavior was assessed through the Binge-Watching Engagement and Symptoms Questionnaire (BWESQ), and psychological correlates were assessed through DASS 21, Brief COPE, and Big Five Invenrory-2-Short (BFI-2-S). Results: A high prevalence rate (85%) for binge-watching has been found. Avoidance coping style increases binge-watching behavior. Conscientiousness personality trait decreases binge-watching, and extraversion increases it. Conclusion: Binge-watching is a prevalent phenomenon in the community and coping styles, and personality traits can influence binge-watching behavior in a bidirectional manner.
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spelling doaj-art-7eb522ccb77f49649c6d053a924c4dd42025-08-20T04:02:01ZengWolters Kluwer Medknow PublicationsIndustrial Psychiatry Journal0972-67480976-27952025-05-0134221522010.4103/ipj.ipj_36_25Prevalence and psychological correlates of binge-watching: The digital era of entertainmentMaumita SilAnwesha MondalManish KumarBackground: Binge-watching refers to watching multiple television series episodes in one sitting. The concept of narratives and the immersive nature of the storyline are highlighted in the binge-watching phenomenon. Binge-watching has been compared with the addiction model, which impacts both mental and physical health. Different studies in the West have come up with different binge-watch profiles, but in India, the literature on binge-watching is scarce. Aim: The present study aims to explore the prevalence of binge-watching behavior and determine the relationship between binge-watching and the psychological correlates, namely, stress, depression, anxiety, coping styles, and personality traits. Materials and Methods: The current study was conducted online on a community sample consisting of 235 individuals. Binge-watching behavior was assessed through the Binge-Watching Engagement and Symptoms Questionnaire (BWESQ), and psychological correlates were assessed through DASS 21, Brief COPE, and Big Five Invenrory-2-Short (BFI-2-S). Results: A high prevalence rate (85%) for binge-watching has been found. Avoidance coping style increases binge-watching behavior. Conscientiousness personality trait decreases binge-watching, and extraversion increases it. Conclusion: Binge-watching is a prevalent phenomenon in the community and coping styles, and personality traits can influence binge-watching behavior in a bidirectional manner.https://journals.lww.com/10.4103/ipj.ipj_36_25anxietybinge-watchingcopingdepressionpersonality traits
spellingShingle Maumita Sil
Anwesha Mondal
Manish Kumar
Prevalence and psychological correlates of binge-watching: The digital era of entertainment
Industrial Psychiatry Journal
anxiety
binge-watching
coping
depression
personality traits
title Prevalence and psychological correlates of binge-watching: The digital era of entertainment
title_full Prevalence and psychological correlates of binge-watching: The digital era of entertainment
title_fullStr Prevalence and psychological correlates of binge-watching: The digital era of entertainment
title_full_unstemmed Prevalence and psychological correlates of binge-watching: The digital era of entertainment
title_short Prevalence and psychological correlates of binge-watching: The digital era of entertainment
title_sort prevalence and psychological correlates of binge watching the digital era of entertainment
topic anxiety
binge-watching
coping
depression
personality traits
url https://journals.lww.com/10.4103/ipj.ipj_36_25
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AT manishkumar prevalenceandpsychologicalcorrelatesofbingewatchingthedigitaleraofentertainment