Lotun, Shaaba and Lamarche, Veronica M and Matran-Fernandez, Ana and Sandstrom, Gillian M (2024) People perceive parasocial relationships to be effective at fulfilling emotional needs. Scientific Reports, 14 (1). 8185-. DOI https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-024-58069-9
Lotun, Shaaba and Lamarche, Veronica M and Matran-Fernandez, Ana and Sandstrom, Gillian M (2024) People perceive parasocial relationships to be effective at fulfilling emotional needs. Scientific Reports, 14 (1). 8185-. DOI https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-024-58069-9
Lotun, Shaaba and Lamarche, Veronica M and Matran-Fernandez, Ana and Sandstrom, Gillian M (2024) People perceive parasocial relationships to be effective at fulfilling emotional needs. Scientific Reports, 14 (1). 8185-. DOI https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-024-58069-9
Abstract
People regularly form one-sided, “parasocial” relationships (PSRs) with targets incapable of returning the sentiment. Past work has shown that people engage with PSRs to support complex psychological needs (e.g., feeling less lonely after watching a favorite movie). However, we do not know how people rate these relationships relative to traditional two-sided relationships in terms of their effectiveness in supporting psychological needs. The current research (Ntotal = 3085) examined how PSRs help people fulfil emotion regulation needs. In Studies 1 and 2, participants felt that both their YouTube creator and non-YouTube creator PSRs were more effective at fulfilling their emotional needs than in-person acquaintances, albeit less effective than close others. In Study 3, people with high self-esteem thought PSRs would be responsive to their needs when their sociometer was activated, just as they do with two-sided relationships.
Item Type: | Article |
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Uncontrolled Keywords: | Parasocial relationships; Emotion regulation; Responsiveness; Social media; Self-esteem |
Divisions: | Faculty of Science and Health Faculty of Science and Health > Computer Science and Electronic Engineering, School of Faculty of Science and Health > Psychology, Department of |
SWORD Depositor: | Unnamed user with email elements@essex.ac.uk |
Depositing User: | Unnamed user with email elements@essex.ac.uk |
Date Deposited: | 12 Apr 2024 15:12 |
Last Modified: | 16 May 2024 22:19 |
URI: | http://repository.essex.ac.uk/id/eprint/38106 |
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