The Search for Pleasure and Meaning on TV, Captured In-App: Eudaimonia and Hedonism Effects on TV Consumption as Self-Reported via Mobile App

Abstract

The present study investigates the effects of eudaimonia and hedonism on genre preferences by connecting eudaimonia and hedonism survey measures to individuals’ self-reported TV-show viewing data over time in the mobile app TV Time. Regression models suggest that higher eudaimonia leads to more viewing of mystery, mini-series, thriller, and drama, but less viewing of family, adventure, and action shows. Higher hedonism leads to more viewing of family, romance, action, and comedy programs, but less viewing of mystery, sci-fi, mini-series, suspense, horror, crime, thriller, and drama shows. Models including hedonism and eudaimonia generally, although not always, fit the data better than demographics-only models.