Date of Submission
2025
Degree Type
Dissertation
Degree Name
Doctor of Psychology (PsyD)
Department
Psychology
Department Chair
Stephanie Felgoise, PhD, ABPP
First Advisor
Stephen Poteau, PhD
Second Advisor
Leslie Fernandez, PsyD
Third Advisor
Jeffrey Alpart, PsyD CCC-SLP
Abstract
Television (TV) and film have increasingly become meaningful ways for people to connect, whether through discussing content, engaging with celebrities online, or forming imagined relationships with fictional characters. These one-sided connections are known as parasocial relationships (PSR). While prior research has mainly focused on how PSR influence romantic relationships—affecting ideals, expectations, perceptions, and satisfaction—the current study expands this examination to non-romantic relationships, specifically friendships.
The aim of this research is to explore how stronger non-romantic PSR might influence an individual's expectations, beliefs, perceptions, and overall satisfaction with their real-life friendships. Participants completed several assessments, including the Parasocial Relationship Measure, Relationship Assessment Scale, Perceived Social Support Measure - Friends Scale (PSS-Fr), and Acquaintance Description Form (ADF-F2). These measures collectively evaluated the strength of participants' PSR alongside their expectations and satisfaction within their actual friendships.
Results highlight the significant role PSR play in contemporary media interactions, revealing their potential to satisfy emotional needs, shape personal identity, and offer psychological validation. Additionally, generational and technological differences emerged, with younger audiences forming intense, immediate connections through serialized media content, while older viewers more often developed nostalgia-driven bonds via episodic formats. Although PSR can provide emotional benefits, such as self-affirmation, they may also lead to heightened expectations or feelings of inadequacy in real-world relationships. These insights underscore important implications for media creators, mental health professionals, and future research exploring the broader impacts of PSR on emotional well-being and social dynamics.
Recommended Citation
Plaza, Renee N., "Parasocial Relationships and Women’s Friendship Expectations, Perceptions, and Satisfaction" (2025). PCOM Psychology Dissertations. 666.
https://digitalcommons.pcom.edu/psychology_dissertations/666
