Go Long or Go Often: Influences on Binge Watching Frequency and Duration among College Students

Kelly Merrill and Bridget Rubenking
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Kelly Merrill: School of Communication, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH 43210, USA
Bridget Rubenking: Nicholson School of Communication and Media, University of Central Florida, Orlando, FL 32816, USA

Social Sciences, 2019, vol. 8, issue 1, 1-12

Abstract: Binge watching, or serial viewing of a single program over an extended period of time, is a relatively new norm in television viewing that is becoming more popular than traditional appointment viewing. Previous research has explored various influences on binge watching; however, the current research is unique in exploring theoretically and empirically grounded predictors of both binge watching frequency and duration of binge watching sessions by means of a survey administered to college undergraduates ( N = 651). Data show that binge watching frequency and duration are predicted by two non-overlapping sets of variables. Binge watching frequency was predicted by low self-regulation, greater tendency to use binge watching as both a reward and a form of procrastination, and less regret; while binge watching duration was associated with being female and experiencing greater enjoyment while binging. Self-control did not predict either binge watching frequency or duration, suggesting that alternative theoretical models should be explored. Findings also suggest that scholars should reconceptualize binge watching by including both frequency and duration measures in future studies.

Keywords: binge watching; self-regulation; self-control; reward; enjoyment; procrastination; regret (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: A B N P Y80 Z00 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2019
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (6)

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