Political TV Tertulia Addiction

A pattern of nightly viewing of long-form political talk shows ("tertulias") on Spanish television — La Sexta Noche, El Hormiguero political segments, Cuatro al Día, TVE debates — driving stress, polarisation, and chronic late bedtimes.

Why this habit matters

  • Relationships: Households where partners are aligned with opposing channels report tertulia time as a recurrent source of conflict; in extreme cases, contributes to the broader dynamic of political polarisation eroding family communication.
  • Mental_health: Daily exposure to outrage-driven political content reliably elevates anxiety symptoms and political pessimism in Spanish CIS survey data, without producing better political knowledge.
  • Sleep: Late-night exposure to high-conflict content elevates pre-sleep cortisol and shortens total sleep duration; Spanish viewers of nightly tertulias show measurably later bedtimes and worse sleep quality.

Related habits