Adolescent Girls' Parasocial Interactions with Media Figures
- Resource Type
- Journal Articles
Reports - Research
- Authors
- Theran, Sally A.; Newberg, Emily M.; Gleason, Tracy R.
- Source
- Journal of Genetic Psychology. Jul-Sep 2010 171(3):270-277.
- Subject
- Females
Adolescents
Attachment Behavior
Interpersonal Relationship
Grade 9
High School Students
Popular Culture
Adolescent Development
- Language
- English
- ISSN
- 0022-1325
We examined aspects of adolescent girls' parasocial interactions in the context of typical development. Parasocial interactions are defined as symbolic, one-sided quasi-interactions between a viewer and a media figure. In total, 107 adolescent girls were examined; 94% reported engaging in parasocial interactions to some degree. Preoccupied attachment style predicted the degree of involvement in and emotional intensity of parasocial interactions. Results suggest that parasocial interactions are characteristic of girls with preoccupied attachment, but are also part of normative development. (Contains 1 table.)