Settling in for a few episodes of your favourite show after a long day is normal for many people. Streaming has become a familiar way to relax, switch off and fill quiet evenings. But for some viewers, the anticipation of the next episode becomes difficult to postpone with habits that start to affect sleep, routines and emotional well-being.
New research suggests that your binge-watching addiction may reflect more than just a love of TV series.
What your binge-watching addiction really means
Published in the journal PLOS One, the study explored the link between binge-watching addiction and loneliness. Researchers surveyed 551 adults who were heavy consumers of TV series, watching at least 3.5 hours a day and more than four episodes a week.
More than 60% of participants met the criteria for binge-watching addiction. Among this group, higher levels of loneliness were strongly associated with more severe addictive viewing patterns. This link did not appear among participants who watched large amounts of TV but did not show signs of addiction.
The findings suggest that binge-watching addiction is not simply about how much time someone spends watching. It seems to be connected to emotional motivations that differ from non-addictive viewing habits.
Loneliness, escapism and emotional comfort connected to binge-watching addiction
When researchers investigated why people binge-watch, loneliness stood out as a key factor. Participants with addictive viewing patterns were more likely to watch for escapism and emotional enhancement, using TV series to distract themselves from negative feelings or to create short-term emotional relief.
Viewers who did not suffer a binge-watching addiction did not show the same emotional drivers, even when they watched similar amounts of content. This distinction helps explain why binge-watching has a more profound impact on some people than others.
The study does not establish a cause-and-effect relationship. It remains unclear whether loneliness leads to binge-watching addiction or whether excessive binge-watching increases feelings of isolation over time.
Binge-watching addiction and mental well-being in South Africa
South Africa ranks among countries with the highest average daily screen time globally, raising concerns about how digital habits affect sleep, focus and mental health.
Mental health experts have also warned that emotional strain and isolation remain widespread. According to the South African Depression and Anxiety Group, more than half of South African workers report struggling with mental health challenges, highlighting how common stress and loneliness have become.
In this context, binge-watching addiction may act as an accessible coping mechanism when social connection feels limited or emotional pressure builds.
When to pay attention to your binge-watching habits
Enjoying a series or watching multiple episodes in one go is not a problem. But when binge-watching becomes compulsive, interferes with daily responsibilities or replaces real-world connections, it may signal underlying emotional needs that deserve attention.
Recognising the difference between healthy viewing and a problematic binge-watching addiction can help people better understand how they respond to loneliness and stress in an increasingly digital world.
