If nothing brings you more joy than curling up on the couch and binging a new series, there’s good news. While it may feel like the ultimate guilty pleasure, new research suggests binge-watching TV could actually benefit your brain.
In the U.S., people stream an average of 21 hours of digital media each week. Platforms like Hulu, Netflix, and HBO make it easy to get pulled into a marathon, releasing entire seasons at once and ending episodes on irresistible cliffhangers.
But if you’re worried all that screen time is frying your brain, a new study from the University of Georgia suggests otherwise. Researchers found that when people watch or read stories in long, uninterrupted stretches, it can help them “recover from daily stressors.”
That’s because binge-watchers often revisit stories afterward in their thoughts, engaging through daydreams, imagination, and fantasy. Researchers call this “retrospective imaginative involvement.” Binge reading showed similar, though slightly smaller, effects.
“People who have that habit of binge-watching shows often aren’t doing it passively but are actually actively thinking about it afterwards,” said Joshua Baldwin, lead author of the study published in Acta Psychologica and postdoctoral researcher at the University of Georgia, in a statement. “They’re very much wanting to engage with stories, even when they’re not around to watch shows.” By dwelling on those satisfying story elements, it offers “a way to cope with daily stressors and increase well-being.”
Baldwin explained that humans are wired for stories. Narratives, he said, serve an important role in meeting our needs, whether it’s the drive to connect with others, feel independent and capable, or find a sense of comfort and security. “Stories have characters that fulfill these roles, and we can satisfy those needs through them,” he said.
No wonder 73% of people surveyed by Netflix reported having positive feelings after a binge.
The research suggests that tearing through a book in one sitting or staying up until 2 a.m. to finish a season could be more rewarding than stretching it out with a chapter or an episode a night.
Of course, it’s not all upside. “There’s a lot of debate over whether or not media is a good or bad thing, but it’s always nuanced argument,” said Baldwin. Binge-watching has been linked to poorer sleep, and the “post-binge-watching blues” after finishing a great series can leave some viewers deflated “It always depends on the content itself, why people are watching it, the psychological background of the individual and the context,” he added.
Still, the next time Netflix asks if you’re still watching five hours in, don’t feel guilty for clicking “yes.”
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