Binge-watching TV may seem like a great way to relax, but a new study found that it could be a sign you're depressed and lonely.
"Even though some people argue that binge-watching is a harmless addiction, findings from our study suggest that binge-watching should no longer be viewed this way," said Yoon Hi Sung, a researcher at the University of Texas at Austin,
according to Yahoo Health.
"Physical fatigue and problems such as obesity and other health problems are related to binge-watching and they are a cause for concern. When binge-watching becomes rampant, viewers may start to neglect their work and their relationships with others."
Researchers surveyed 316 young people between the ages of 18 and 29 to make their findings. They found that survey respondents who reported higher levels of depression and loneliness were more likely to also report higher levels of television watching. The researches defined "binge-watching" — a relatively new term in the societal lexicon — as watching two to six episodes of the same show in one sitting.
As one might expect, the researchers also found that excessive television watching was associated with a lack of self-control. These days, with platforms like Netflix and Hulu, it can be all too easy to let the next episode autoplay, or click the "next" button.
"Even though people know they should not, they have difficulty resisting the desire to watch episodes continuously. Our research is a step toward exploring binge-watching as an important media and social phenomenon," said Sung.
The findings of the study will be presented at the 65th Annual Conference of the International Communication Association in San Juan, Puerto Rico.
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