Integrative Analysis of Binge -Watching Behaviour in the Streaming Era

Abstract

Abstract Background: Binge-watching (BW), defined as the continuous and prolonged viewing of multiple episodes of series, movies, and other digital media, has become a prevalent phenomenon with the rise of streaming services. This subject, which has seen increasing academic interest, is marked by conceptual variations and debates concerning its mental health implications. Objectives: Conduct an integrative review to contribute to the scientific basis and promote the conceptual consolidation of BW from various perspectives. Methods: This integrative review examines key scholarly articles on BW. We analyzed 24 studies from Google Scholar, PubMed, and Scielo, selected based on the P.E.C.O.S. inclusion criteria and published between 2013 and 2023. Results: The definition of BW varies, including criteria such as episode count, session duration, and the number of seasons viewed, along with seven different behavioral assessment scales. Associations were found between BW and several mental health issues, including depression, anxiety, stress, sleep disturbances, and loneliness. Conclusion: The review outlines the definitions, motivations, and mental health comorbidities associated with BW. It highlights significant gaps in current knowledge, partly due to the non-systematic search methods that may have excluded relevant studies. Keywords: Binge Watching, Digital media, Integrative review.