The Impact of Binge Watching on Physical and Mental Health

The assignment discusses the effects of binge watching on physical and mental health, highlighting symptoms of unintentional binge watching and its consequences. It also explores the correlation between impulsivity and addiction in intentional and unintentional binge-watching practices.

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Introduction to
Research Methods

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1. TOPIC: - Binge watching TV
2. INTRODUCTION
Binge watching TV is basically a new phenomenon which is a practice where an
individual watching several programs continuously while sitting at one place. This widespread of
binge-watching practice generate a concern about the psychological health of people who are
involve in such practices due its associated negative outcome (Jenner, 2017). The potential
addictiveness of binge watching TV and its impact over population becomes the major point of
concern for the wider community. For understanding this a critical review performed over the
articles presented by Riddle et. al. (2017) for analyzing the reliability as well as validity of
research and to use findings as an accurate predictor of traits or addictive symptoms of people
involved in practice of binge watching
3. SUMMARY
The article of Binge watching provides information regarding personality trait of
impulsivity, symptoms of addictiveness and unintentional binge watching. The binge watching
has become a way through which majority of viewer enjoys TV shows. As per the views of
societal phenomenon, investigation has been performed over this issue which brings several
factors of concern regarding viewer's physical as well as mental health (Flayelle, Maurage, and
Billieux, 2017). This includes long term issues such as obesity, heart disease etc. The binge-
watching is seen in a broader context within the modern age where continuously more addictive
and sophisticated technologies are introducing in market that contribute to new sort of consumer
behavior pattern that involves several harmful overuse (Walton-Pattison, Dombrowski and
Presseau, 2018). For this study Two hypothesis for investigation has been presented among them

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hypothesis 1 is about determining whether the impulsivity is related with the frequency of Binge
watching and to present positive correlation with unintentional binge watching with the
intentional. This hypothesis will support in predicting the addictive symptom which are the main
cause behind the frequency of TV binge watching among people (Starcevic, 2016). On the other
side the second Hypothesis is about clarifying and predicting the unintentional binging that
results into higher intensity of people's addiction symptoms so that the relationship between the
impulsive and addictive symptoms.
The major strength of this study is that it supports in determining the major
consequences that a person may face who get addicted with Binge watching practices as it not
only affect the mental health but physical health as well. It also represents the basic importance
of intentionality along with the most common moderator of binge watching behavior and
addictive symptoms (Rubenking and et. al., 2018). In addition to this study also includes several
effect that repeated unintentional binge watching have such as in certain conditions those people
that are high in impulsive personality trait get engaged in unintentional binge watching
throughout their academic semesters which also influence their performance as students won't be
able to control their mind. On the other side in case of intentional binge watching it become
easier for a people to get away from such practices when they want as they are less addictive to
this.
On the other side, the major weakness of this study that is mentioned by the
researcher, that individuals may refuse to admit that unintentional binging and because of this the
study might indeed identify that intentional binging is more common which further results into
future researcher might employ larger number of methods for determining the accurate outcome
(Riddle, K. and et. al., 2017, November 20). In addition to this several other mediums such as

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YouTube, online gaming, social media and several other forms of alternative media are not
included in this investigation which also causes issue of binge watching.
4. CRITICAL EVALUATION
As per the article presented by Riddle, K. and et. al., 2017, November 20, it has been
stated that with the emergence of online streaming television services the TV watching habit of
people become common which generated a new behavioral phenomenon such as television binge
watching. This is a practice of viewing multiple episode of a television show continuously while
sitting over one place only. It has several negative consequences like binge watching may
generate feeling of regret, impact on sleep or day ahead, affect health etc. According to Walton-
Pattison, Dombrowski and Presseau, 2018, watching television is considering as most
widespread leisure time activity which found among majority of people which reduce their
physical activity and leads to creation of several health issues. It has been found that in United
Kingdom around one-third of the adults spend around four hours a day watching television
which increases the risk of obesity and lack of sleeping due to an urge of watching television
which restrict people to perform something else.
Methods used in research
For performing this investigation several methods have been used in order to perform
investigation effectively. This involve several type of tools and techniques that are used to gather,
arrange, present, evaluate and interpret the information in effective manner so that proper
findings and conclusion can be represented in front of readers that help in enhancing their
knowledge (Panda and Pandey, 2017). This is one of the highly concern subject area in these
days and required to generate awareness among the people lives in society so that they would be
able to learn about its consequences and get rid of such habits. For this qualitative research

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method has been used which support in representing the information by following a theoretical
framework as in this information is gathered on the basis of qualitative mean. To support the
qualitative information inductive approach has been used as it is effective in accumulation of
information as per theories and hypothesis. In addition to this descriptive research design is used
that support in representing information in detailed manner which ensures effective
understanding (Panda and Pandey, 2017). Despite of this, Questionnaire is also being used to
gather information from larger number of participants in which information gathered is
evaluated using descriptive along with correlations and variances. In addition to this study
presented by Walton-Pattison, Dombrowski and Presseau, 2018, Pilot method was used for the
development of questionnaire which involves information from five participants among them
two are men and three women within the age group of 19-32 years among them participants are
master's students and professionals that are young. This questionnaire is approved by the ethic
committee and with the help of cross-sectional design. In this participants for the study are
invited through social media using snowball method for filling up the online questionnaire and
for getting right information the participants are provided with the informed consent.
Result of study
From the study performed over article presented by Riddle, K. and et. al., 2017, it has
been found that 218 students participate in this study among which 47 of them are either a)
intentional binge watching b) unintentional binge watching means these are removed from
overall result. On other side 171 participants involved in both type i.e. intentional, unintentional
binge watching which are then assigned with binge type section. Among them 86 participant
focused on intentional binge but 85 participants focus on unintentional binge watching. The
major strength of this study is that it revealed about snowball effect which occurs due to

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repetition of unintentional binge watching. On other hand, the result of study emphasize on
WTSMQ and BWESQ that involves a good psychometric properties and constitute toward
promising tool that can be used within emerging binge-watching research area. But the weakness
is this study is that it requires participants to self report, inaccurate memory and possible social
desirability. In addition to this the scale developed for this study was validated among French
speaking population and for future cross-sectional studies researcher required to test their
psychometric structure within different language and culture.
On the other side, the article presented by Walton-Pattison, Dombrowski and Presseau,
2018, it has been found that there are 110 respondents from which information has been gathered
from online questionnaire. It has been found that from last week the binge watching is reported
over the mean of 1.42 days in which 2.94 episodes are being watched in 2.51 hours. Most of the
participants are reported binge watching over online streaming services such as BBC iPlayer,
Netflix, YouTube etc. By further investigating over this it has been found that the majority of
people watch TV from 5 p.m onward as it is their free time. Among them 74% watch TV in their
living room, 53% in bedroom, 5% at their work and 16 % within the house of other people. The
major strength of the study is that data is gathered in several categories that make it easier to
conclude finding. In addition to this, the information provided in this investigation also asses the
association of binge watching and health outcome such as eating, sleep hygiene and physical
activity which support in gaining the interest of readers within study. But the weakness of study
is that it involve self reporting which sometimes involve bias reporting as participants may not
provide accurate information regarding the questions asked to them. Hence, it has been found
that the Binge watching not only associated with the standard social cognitive factor but also
anticipated regret, perception and automaticity of goal conflict

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5. CONCLUSION
From the above mentioned information it can be conclude that binge watching is a major
concern within the community which is affecting the physical health of people by increasing
issues like obesity, heart disease etc. and mental health issues. In addition to that, this study also
provides a description regarding the symptoms of unintentional binge watching and its
consequences along with intentional binge-watch. The article strength lies in identifying the type
of binge watching with the help of correlation of impulsivity to addiction with the help of both
factors such as intentional or unintentional binge watching practices.

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REFERENCES
Books and Journals
Walton-Pattison, E., Dombrowski, S. U., & Presseau, J. (2018). ‘Just one more episode’:
Frequency and theoretical correlates of television binge watching. Journal of health
psychology. 23(1). 17-24.
Rubenking, B. and et. al., (2018). Defining new viewing behaviours: What makes and
motivates TV binge-watching?. International Journal of Digital Television. 9(1). pp.69-85.
Walton-Pattison, E.,Dombrowski, S. U., &Presseau, J. (2018). ‘Just one more episode’:
Frequency and theoretical correlates of television binge watching. Journal of health psychology,
23(1), 17-24.
Riddle, K. and et. al., (2017, November 20). The Addictive Potential of Television Binge
Watching: Comparing Intentional and Unintentional Binges. Psychology of Popular Media
Culture. Advance online publication.
Jenner, M. (2017). Binge-watching: Video-on-demand, quality TV and mainstreaming
fandom. International Journal of Cultural Studies. 20(3). 304-320.
Flayelle, M., Maurage, P., & Billieux, J. (2017). Toward a qualitative understanding of
binge-watching behaviors: A focus group approach. Journal of behavioral addictions. 6(4). 457-
471.
Starcevic, V. (2016). Behavioural addictions: A challenge for psychopathology and
psychiatric nosology. Australian & New Zealand Journal of Psychiatry. 50(8). 721-725.
Panda, S., & Pandey, S. C. (2017). Binge watching and college students: Motivations and
outcomes. Young Consumers. 18(4). 425-438.