A popular trend these days is to download your favorite television series and then “binge-watch” all of the episodes in a season in just a few days. Fans say it’s much easier to track complex plotlines and recognize character subtleties when the episodes are watched back-to-back.

But a study from the University of Texas at Austin suggests that those who opt for these TV marathons are likely to feel lonely and depressed.

In a survey of volunteers ages 19 to 29, researchers asked subjects about mood and television viewing patterns.

At the 65th Annual Conference of the International Communication Association, they reported that binge-watchers had higher levels of depression and loneliness, and used television to escape these feelings.

Respondents who were binge-watchers also reported greater difficulties in controlling behavior.

Other studies have shown that difficulties in self-regulation have been associated with addictive behaviors.

Of course, for many people binge-watching is more fun than harm. But for others, it could indicate an underlying issue that requires more intervention than spending hours in front of a television.