Abstract
<p>Binge watching (BW) TV series is now a popular phenomenon. However, there are legitimate concerns about BW and its similarities to other problematic online behaviours. Understanding how a healthy behaviour may transition to becoming problematic requires further investigation. The present study examined the predictors of problematic binge watching (PBW); hypothesising that impulsivity, anxiety, watching engagement, sensation seeking, and low levels of mental health would be associated with PBW. The moderating effect of sensation seeking in the relationship between watching engagement and PBW, and the mediating effect of mental health in the relationship between anxiety and PBW was also assessed. In total, 1,257 participants (mean age = 33.8 years, SD = 10.7) completed an online survey consisting of a battery of scales. Results revealed that number of months watching TV series, watching engagement, anxiety, impulsivity, and sensation seeking significantly predicted PBW with a large effect size. The interaction between watching engagement and sensation seeking was statistically significant, indicating sensation seeking significantly moderated the relationship between watching engagement and PBW. Furthermore, the relationship between anxiety and PBW was partially mediated by mental health. The findings showed support for direct and indirect pathways through which individuals traits shape PBW, future research is discussed.</p>