The affective, cognitive, and behavioral echo of cumulative series reception aka binge-watching: A qualitative study

Abstract

When analyzing the cumulative reception of TV series, often called binge-watching (i.e., watching several episodes of one TV series back-to-back), there has been a strong focus on potentially harmful consequences in the literature, such as insomnia, anxiety, depression symptoms, and particularly addiction. However, only a few extant studies have considered potential nonharmful or even beneficial consequences from binge-watching. The present study addresses this gap in the binge-watching literature and calls for future studies that address the gap between the two contrasting perspectives on binge-watching, i.e., whether it is a harmful or beneficial behavior. In the present study, 24 semi-structured, diary-based interviews were conducted with young adults, yielding a wide spectrum of thoughts, affects, and behaviors that outlasted the exposure situation. The qualitative content analysis revealed long-term effects, such as transferred positive and negative moods, delayed sleep, feelings of inspiration or motivation, and urges to research or communicate about the TV series. A key finding was that binge-watching also triggered affective states such as heightened arousal or grieving, which could last up to several hours or days. The described media effects' potential persistence demonstrates the importance of considering the time aspect in future research because the longer the effects last, the longer they potentially impact one's everyday live.