To access the extended pros and cons, sources, and discussion questions about whether binge-watching is right for you, go to ProCon.org. In addition, some people are characterized by their personal development and cognitive motivation to acquire information or knowledge by watching television series [20,34,37]. As millions of people around the world embrace the convenience of digital streaming and the instant gratification of watching their favorite TV series, researchers are starting to explore exactly how this new type of TV can affect overall health. The objective of this systematic review is to present all recent research on the phenomenon of binge-watching and its psychological conditions in order to allow a better understanding of this common phenomenon. Other topics in the study include the addictive nature of this behavior and the risks mentioned above for viewers, which could be important for the prevention of mental disorders as well as for a better understanding of excessive forms of binge-watching. Research conducted at the University of Texas at Austin found that burst television correlated with depression, loneliness, self-regulation deficit and obesity. “Even though some people argue that binge-watching is a harmless addiction, the results of our study suggest that binge-watching should no longer be viewed in this way,” the authors conclude. [19] Cases of people being treated for binge-watching addiction have already been reported. [20] Most of the studies covered by the systematic research covered in this article were conducted in the United States (n = 16) or European countries (n = 10), including Belgium (n = 3), the Netherlands (n = 2), Poland (n = 1), Portugal (n = 1), the United Kingdom (n = 1), Germany (n = 1) and Hungary (n = 1). This seems perfectly understandable, because binge-watching was popularized by an American company – Netflix.
However, Netflix and other streaming platforms are currently available in most countries around the world, which is why it`s also important that more research is done on the behavioral patterns and psychological conditions of binge-watching on different populations around the world. Second, women make up the majority of respondents in most of the studies mentioned in this article, which is why it can be assumed that women watch more than men [20,32]. However, it is important to note that women also seem to have been more willing to participate in surveys than men. In other research, it would be important to study the male population in more detail in order to study the typical binge-watching behavior patterns of men and compare them with women. Another limitation of the research is that most of the participants in the studies covered by this systematic review were in their twenties. This can be explained by the fact that young adults are the main consumers of streaming platforms and most of the surveys were conducted online. It can be assumed that young adults seem to be the most accessible research group. In addition, it could be related to the fact that the majority of research participants were students. Students are by far the most accessible research group, and it can also be assumed that they simply have enough time to watch many TV shows. However, it is important not to generalize about the results obtained by studying only the group of students in the general population.
With regard to the above, it seems important to do more research that also involves people of different age groups, including adolescents, middle-aged people and the elderly, as well as people with different professional statuses. Another limitation of the research is the lack of randomised and longitudinal studies on the psychological conditions of binge-watching, which would be characterised by the highest validity and reliability. Current research on the relationship between binge drinking and mental disorders such as depression, anxiety, and insomnia shows inconsistent results. In addition, the difficulty of determining the direction inherent in these interrelationships must be faced.