A Parasocial Relationship (PSR) is a one-way relationship between a media figure and media consumer. On an entertainment level, PSRs can be regarded as a positive phenomenon for how they provide a sense of companionship and a community can be fostered around them. However, as PSR intensity increases, social involvement can diminish and the individual can exhibit behavioral addiction symptomology. To elucidate the intensity of a PSR as a factor in extraversion and psychological well-being, subjects were asked to participate in two studies, each with two surveys. In study 1, 92 subjects responded to an altered form of the Celebrity Addiction Scale, which classifies a PSR by intensity into three distinct categories, and the Extraversion portion of the Abbreviated Eysenck Personality Questionnaire. In study 2, 71 subjects completed the Parasocial Interaction Scale, a direct indication of the intensity of a PSR, and the Warwick-Edinburgh Mental Well-being Scale, a self-report of an individual’s psychological well-being. Results indicate that generally, there is no relationship between PSR intensity, extraversion, and psychological well-being. Further research is necessary as the number of media platforms increase and become more interactive; it is pertinent that we understand how PSRs can positively and negatively affect media consumers.

Parasocial Relationships and Well-being