Binge watching has become a new social norm. It has developed into a leisure activity for many individuals on a global scale. The sudden trend in popularity has been caused by the growth of streaming services. COVID-19 has also played a role in the shift. 

Popularity of Binge Watching

Research has shown that binge-watching often precedes feelings of stress and loneliness, patterns of insomnia, and depression and anxiety. Screen time has been found to play a role in intensifying these adverse feelings. 

Research Into Binge Watching and Wellbeing 

Watching numerous episodes of television shows in rapid succession with little to no breaks. 

University of Delaware

- mental health
- body image and eating disorders
- obesity
- behavioral influence
- health information and misinformation in the media


Common Themes in the Relationship Between Media and Health

Within health psychology, research on media consumption examines how the amount and manner in which people consume media relates to their health and behavior. Two prominent topics in this area are behavioral influence, which addresses how media exposure shapes health-related behaviors, and binge watching, which concerns the practice of viewing many episodes of a show in rapid succession and its effects on wellbeing.

Health Psychology Research Relating to Media Consumption

Raza, S. H., Yousaf, M., Sohail, F., Munawar, R., Ogadimma, E. C., &amp; Marisa Lim Dao Siang, J. (2021). Investigating binge-watching adverse mental health outcomes during covid-19 pandemic: Moderating role of Screen Time for web series using online streaming. Psychology Research and Behavior Management, Volume 14, 1615–1629. https://doi.org/10.2147/prbm.s328416 

Investigating Binge-Watching Adverse Mental Health Outcomes During Covid-19 Pandemic: Moderating Role of Screen Time for Web Series Using Online Streaming

There has been a lot of concern about the use of social media and its impact on mental health. The problem is that the studies that have come out have been mixed in results as well as been criticized for their validity. From the studies that were done, they found that the mere exposure of social media was not what attributed to mental health issue but rather the quality of interactions within social media. In one study, they found that the use for social media for negative social comparison lead to later depression. On the other hand. another study found that the positive well being of social media users is associated with the positive use of social media. An example of positive use is authentic self-presentation.

Impact of Social Media on Young Adult 

The mental picture one forms of one’s body as a whole, including its physical characteristics (body percept) and one’s attitudes toward these characteristics (body concept).

Body Image

More and more research into social media suggests that social media use has negative links with adolescent wellbeing. 

Impact of Social Media Use on Adolescents

Researchers believe that individuals were more likely to use social media during peak periods of the COVID-19 pandemic. During the pandemic, different motivation for connecting with others on social media could explain different mental health outcomes. 

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