Personality and Behavioral Inhibition/Activation Systems in Behavioral Addiction: Analysis of Binge-Watching

Abstract

Binge-watching (BW) refers to a pattern of watching TV series characterized by the consecutive viewing of three or more episodes in one sitting. Although there is some evidence about its effects on mental health, little is known about predictive variables which may affect negative occurrences of BW, such as problematic and addictive behavior. This study aimed to assess the unique contribution of personality traits (i.e., neuroticism, extraversion, agreeableness, openness, and conscientiousness) to binge-watching, while also considering the role of two motivational systems: the behavioral inhibition system and the behavioral activation system. Cross-sectional data from 790 respondents were collected using standardized questionnaires evaluating: BW, personality traits, and the behavioral inhibition/activation system. The possible predictive roles of these variables were tested via hierarchical linear regression models. Our results underline a predictive high-risk role of neuroticism and the behavioral inhibition system and a protective role of conscientiousness in the continuum of BW from a leisure activity to a problematic one.