Binge-watching a favorite TV show may seem like a harmless way to relax, but new research suggests that people who develop addictive viewing habits are more likely to experience loneliness.

Published in PLOS One, the study identified a link between loneliness and binge-watching addiction, indicating that some individuals may turn to TV series as a way to cope with social disconnection.

Researchers Xiaofan Yue and Xin Cui from Huangshan University in China analyzed survey responses from 551 adults who regularly consumed television content, reports Euronews. All participants watched TV for at least 3.5 hours per day and more than four episodes per week.

More than six out of ten participants (334 people) met the criteria for binge-watching addiction, which included “preoccupation with TV, increased viewing, and negative impacts on daily life,” such as work or relationships.

Within this group, higher levels of loneliness were significantly associated with more severe binge-watching addiction. No such link was observed among heavy viewers who did not meet the addiction criteria, suggesting that addictive binge-watching may be driven by other psychological factors.

The researchers also explored why binge-watching habits develop and found that loneliness was closely related to two key factors: escapism and “emotional amplification.” This suggests that lonely individuals may turn to television both to avoid negative emotions and to seek comfort or pleasure.

Previous research has linked loneliness to psychological distress, poorer mental well-being, weaker physical health, and reduced quality of life.

The World Health Organization (WHO) estimates that loneliness affects 16 percent of people worldwide and considers social disconnection a “serious threat to global health.” WHO also notes that social isolation and loneliness are associated with an increased risk of heart disease, type 2 diabetes, depression, and anxiety disorders.

However, the study has limitations. It demonstrates an association rather than a direct causal relationship, meaning it does not prove that loneliness causes binge-watching addiction.

Additionally, the researchers focused only on television consumption and did not examine other forms of screen use, such as short-form content on platforms like YouTube or TikTok.

Nonetheless, the findings suggest that excessive media consumption may serve as a coping mechanism for social isolation.

“This study expands our understanding of binge-watching by distinguishing addictive from non-addictive forms, showing that loneliness is a significant predictor of binge-watching addiction, while escapism and emotional amplification serve as dual pathways for emotion regulation,” the authors wrote.

The researchers note that further studies are needed to determine whether reducing loneliness could help prevent or address problematic binge-watching behaviors.