Unwind or Unravel: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis on the Health Correlates of Binge-watching

With the surge in the variety, availability, and accessibility of streaming platforms, the phenomenon of binge-watching has emerged as a widespread leisure activity across the world. Recent survey data of streaming service users indicate that 73% of millennials admit to engaging in binge-watching (Eser, 2024), and 50% of adults aged 45 or younger are capable of binge-watching an entire season of their favorite series in one sitting. Considering the increasing prevalence of binge-watching, it is important to explore how engaging in this behavior might impact health and cognition. In the past few years, studies have investigated the antecedents and effects of binge-watching on various health outcomes. A recent systematic review has been conducted on the impact of binge-watching on mental health (Alimoradi et al., 2022); however, studies have demonstrated that the effects of binge-watching may extend beyond mental health, but also physical health and cognition. Thus, to fully understand the breadth and depth of its impact on both mind and body, a more comprehensive systematic review and meta-analysis is essential. By synthesizing the available research, such an analysis can provide robust conclusions, identify gaps in the literature, and inform future studies on the potential long-term consequences of this increasingly common behavior.