PLoS One

Why some viewers slip from casual streaming into addictive binge-watching

January 23, 2026

In a study of 551 adults, loneliness predicted addictive binge-watching but not non-problematic viewing habits. Using validated measures, researchers found that binge-watching addiction was significantly associated with loneliness (β = 0.325) and driven by two emotion regulation motives: escapism (β = 0.575) and emotional enhancement (β = 0.429). In contrast, loneliness showed no link to routine binge-watching. The results refine existing models of problematic media use by highlighting a dual-pathway mechanism—negative reinforcement through escape and positive reinforcement through mood enhancement—that distinguishes addictive from non-addictive viewing.

Clinical takeaway: Consider assessing patients’ streaming habits when loneliness or maladaptive coping is suspected, as excessive binge-watching may function as an emotion regulation strategy.

Source:

Yue X, Cui X. (2026, January 21). PLoS One. Binge-watching addiction as an emotion regulation way of coping loneliness. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/41563949/