title: Adolescent girls' parasocial interactions with media figures.
abstract: 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.
authors.affiliation: Wellesley College, Psychology Department, 106 Central Street, Wellesley, MA 02481, USA. stheran@wellesley.edu
authors.forename: Sally A
authors.initials: SA
authors.lastname: Theran
authors.forename: Emily M
authors.initials: EM
authors.lastname: Newberg
authors.forename: Tracy R
authors.initials: TR
authors.lastname: Gleason
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D004644:Emotions; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007092:Imagination; D007207:Individuation; D007398:Interpersonal Relations; D009040:Motion Pictures; D009769:Object Attachment; D011385:Projection; D000297:Psychology, Adolescent; D011936:Reality Testing; D012649:Self Concept; D012919:Social Behavior; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D013561:Symbolism