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Binge-watching addiction as an emotion regulation way of coping loneliness

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  • Xiaofan Yue
  • Xin Cui

Abstract

This study advances understanding of problematic media use by differentiating addictive from non-addictive binge-watching in relation to loneliness—an aspect often overlooked in prior research. It contributes to the field in three key ways: first, by empirically distinguishing problematic from non-problematic binge-watching; second, by demonstrating that loneliness significantly predicts binge-watching addiction but not non-problematic viewing; and third, by identifying escapism and emotional enhancement as dual emotion regulation pathways mediating this relationship, thereby extending existing single-motive frameworks. Using a sample of 551 participants, the study employed correlation and regression analyses to investigate these associations. Binge-watching addiction was assessed using the Problematic Series Watching Scale, and binge-watching motives were measured using the Watching TV Series Motives Questionnaire. Results revealed that loneliness was positively related to binge-watching addiction (β = 0.325, p

Suggested Citation

  • Xiaofan Yue & Xin Cui, 2026. "Binge-watching addiction as an emotion regulation way of coping loneliness," PLOS ONE, Public Library of Science, vol. 21(1), pages 1-20, January.
    • Handle: RePEc:plo:pone00:0329853
    DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0329853
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Jolanta A. Starosta & Bernadetta Izydorczyk, 2020. "Understanding the Phenomenon of Binge-Watching—A Systematic Review," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 17(12), pages 1-16, June.
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