Effects of Increased Streaming-Based Crime Drama Consumption on Social Well-Being and Legal Cynicism among the National Capital Region

Abstract Book of the 7th International Conference on Research in Psychology

Year: 2026

[PDF]

Effects of Increased Streaming-Based Crime Drama Consumption on Social Well-Being and Legal Cynicism among the National Capital Region

Saloni Singh, Arnav Verma

ABSTRACT:

Background: The spread of over-the-top (OTT) based streaming platforms in India have been on an exponential rise, especially after Covid-19, significantly influencing media consumption patterns, particularly amongst young Indian youth. Shows depicting themes of crime, violence and aggression, moral ambiguity, and/or institution and judicial failure have been on a rise of popularity, which may influence viewer’s perception of and trust in legal systems as well as their attitude towards violence, which may influence their overall well-being. Despite growing concerns over limited checks over the type of content that young viewers are consuming nowadays, limited empirical research has examined these effects in the Indian context. Purpose: The present study aims to examine the level of exposure to violent crime-drama content on OTT-based platforms, and its effects on attitudes towards violence, legal cynicism, and overall-well being among young adults in urban Indian settings. Additionally, the study sought to explore the mediating role of attitudes toward violence and legal cynicism in the relationship between violent content consumption and well-being. Study Design: The study employed a correlational research design, utilising an ex-post facto approach with a path analysis component, to examine the relationships between Attitude towards Violence, Legal Cynicism, and Well-Being among Indian Viewers. The design was chosen as it enabled the investigation of associations between psychological constructs and occupational outcomes using validated self-report measures. Method: The sample consisted of 301 young adults (aged 18-24 years) residing in the National Capital Region, who reported watching crime-drama content on OTT-based platforms at least once per week. Participants completed the Attitudes Toward Violence Scale (ATV; Davidson & Canivez, 2012), the Legal Cynicism Scale, the Legitimacy Scale, and the Well-Being Scale (WeBS; Lui & Fernando, 2017). Data were analysed using descriptive statistics, Pearson’s correlation analysis, and path analysis in Jamovi. Results: Findings are expected to reveal that higher levels of consumption of violent OTT-based content is correlated with more accepting attitudes towards violence, higher legal cynicism, and overall lower well-being. Attitudes toward violence and legal cynicism are expected to partially mediate the relationship between violent content exposure and well-being. Discussion: The expected findings indicate that frequent exposure to violent crime dramas on OTT platforms may lead to the normalization of violence, degradation of faith in legal systems, and decreased well-being among young adults. The study contributes to our knowledge of how media narratives might indirectly impact social and emotional consequences in urban Indian adolescents by using psychological attitudes and legal perceptions as mediators. The findings highlight the necessity of media literacy, content control, and future longitudinal study to determine the long-term psychological effects of violent streaming material.

Keywords: OTT Streaming Platforms, Violent Crime-Drama Content, Attitude Towards Violence, Legal Cynicism, Well Being Among Young Adults