Improving the understanding of binge-watching behavior: An exploration of its underlying psychological processes

Doctoral thesis (2020)

The advent of the digital age with its progress in on-demand viewing technology has been associated in recent years with a dramatic increase in binge-watching (i.e., watching multiple episodes of TV ... [more ▼]

The advent of the digital age with its progress in on-demand viewing technology has been associated in recent years with a dramatic increase in binge-watching (i.e., watching multiple episodes of TV series in one session), to the point that this practice has now become the new normative way to consume TV shows. Nevertheless, along with its massive rise has come concerns about the associated mental and physical health outcomes, with initial studies even assuming its addictive nature. At a time when the psychological investigation of this behavior was only in its infancy, the current PhD thesis, therefore, aimed at improving the understanding of binge-watching, by clarifying the psychological processes involved in its development and maintenance. To this end, six empirical studies were conducted along two main research axes: 1) the conceptualization and assessment of binge-watching behaviors, and 2) the exploration of binge-watchers’ psychological characteristics. Study 1 consisted of a preliminary qualitative exploration of the phenomenological characteristics of binge-watching. Capitalizing on these pilot findings, Study 2 reported on the development and psychometric validation of two assessment instruments, measuring TV series watching motivations (“Watching TV Series Motives Questionnaire”, WTSMQ) and binge-watching engagement and symptoms (“Binge-Watching Engagement and Symptoms Questionnaire”, BWESQ). Finally, Study 3 aimed at cross-culturally validating the WTSMQ and BWESQ in nine languages (i.e., English, French, Spanish, Italian, German, Hungarian, Persian, Arabic, Chinese). Subsequent to this first line of investigation, Study 4 then explored potential binge-watchers’ subtypes by taking into consideration three key psychological factors, i.e. motivations for binge-watching, impulsivity traits, and emotional reactivity. Study 5 consisted of a pre-registered experimental study aimed at ascertaining differences on behavioral and self-reported impulsivity in non-problematic and problematic binge-watchers. Finally, Study 6 carried out the first systematic review of literature on binge-watching correlates. Beyond providing two theoretically and psychometrically sound binge-watching measures that may enable widespread expansion of international research on the topic, this doctoral research also allowed for important insights into the heterogeneous and complex nature of binge-watching, as well as into the understanding of its underlying psychological mechanisms. Centrally, by revealing that high – but healthy – and problematic engagement in binge-watching are underlined by distinct motivational and dispositional psychological processes, the overall findings of this PhD thesis bring an alternative etiological comprehension of problematic binge-watching as a maladaptive coping or emotional regulation strategy to deal with negative affect states. [less ▲]

Beyond information overload and stress: A plea to acknowledge the complexity of problematic Internet use and consider individualized intervention strategies

in Current Psychiatry Research and Reviews (2019), 15(1), 72-73

High involvement versus pathological involvement in video games: A crucial distinction for ensuring the validity and utility of gaming disorder

in Current Addiction Reports (2019), 6(3), 323-330

Purpose of review. The year 2018 was marked by the official recognition of Gaming Disorder (GD) as a mental condition with its inclusion in the proposed eleventh edition of the International ... [more ▼]

Purpose of review. The year 2018 was marked by the official recognition of Gaming Disorder (GD) as a mental condition with its inclusion in the proposed eleventh edition of the International Classification of Diseases (ICD-11). Recently, a group of scholars has repeatedly criticized the notion of GD proposed by the World Health Organization (WHO), arguing that its inclusion in ICD-11 will pathologize highly involved but healthy gamers. It is therefore of crucial importance to clarify the characteristics of high involvement versus pathological involvement in video games, the boundaries between these constructs, and the implementation of screening and diagnostic GD tools that distinguish the two. Recent findings. Increasing evidence supports the view that intense video game playing may involve patterns of gaming that are characterized by high involvement but that are non-pathological. Furthermore, some criteria for addictive and related disorders may reflect peripheral features that are not necessarily indicative of pathology, whereas others may reflect core features that are more likely to adequately identify pathological behavior and so have diagnostic validity. Finally, it is key to assess functional impairment associated with gaming, so that a GD diagnosis has clinical utility. Summary. Available evidence supports the crucial need to distinguish between high and pathological involvement in videogames, in order to avoid over-diagnosis and pathologization of normal behavior. The definition of GD adopted in ICD-11 has clinical utility and diagnostic validity since it explicitly mentions the functional impairment caused by problem gaming and its diagnostic guidelines refer to core addiction features, reflecting pathological involvement. [less ▲]

Overcoming the unitary exploration of binge-watching: A cluster analytical approach.

in Journal of behavioral addictions (2019), 8(3), 586-602

BACKGROUND AND AIMS: Binge-watching (i.e., watching multiple episodes of a TV series in one session) has recently become standard practice among TV series viewers; this expansion generates concerns ... [more ▼]

BACKGROUND AND AIMS: Binge-watching (i.e., watching multiple episodes of a TV series in one session) has recently become standard practice among TV series viewers; this expansion generates concerns regarding the potential negative outcomes associated with this habit. However, the investigation of its psychological correlates remains fragmentary, with few initial studies a priori conceptualizing this behavior as a new addictive disorder. This study explored these psychological correlates using cluster analysis of binge-watching behavior based on three key psychological factors: motivations, impulsivity, and emotional reactivity. METHODS: An online survey was completed by 4,039 TV series viewers. Data were analyzed using hierarchical and non-hierarchical cluster analyses, the validity of the clusters being finally determined through mutual comparisons with a selection of external correlates. RESULTS: Four clusters were identified: recreational TV series viewers (presenting low involvement in binge-watching), regulated binge-watchers (moderately involved), avid binge-watchers (presenting elevated but non-problematic involvement), and unregulated binge-watchers (presenting potentially problematic involvement associated with negative outcomes). DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSIONS: This study underlines the heterogeneous and multidetermined nature of binge-watching. Our findings suggest that high engagement in binge-watching is distinct from problematic binge-watching, thus reinforcing the notion that conceptualizing binge-watching as an addictive disorder is of low relevance and might actually lead to the overpathologization of this highly popular leisure activity. [less ▲]

Assessing binge-watching behaviors: Development of the « Watching TV Series Motives » and the « Binge-Watching Engagement » questionnaires

in Journal of Behavioral Addictions (2018), 7 (Suppl.1)

Toward an in-depth understanding of binge-watching behavior: a qualitative approach with focus group

in Journal of behavioral addictions (2017, March), 6 (Suppl.1)