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Research Paper | Psychology | Volume 15 Issue 2, February 2026 | Pages: 840 - 842 | India
Parasocial Relationships in Adolescence: Emotional Attachment, Social Media Engagement, and their Impact on Developmental Outcomes
Abstract: The rapid advancement of social media and the expansion of digital entertainment platforms have transformed how individuals are exposed to celebrities, media personalities, and social media influencers. This has led to development of parasocial relationships (PSR) and parasocial interactions (PSI) among teenagers. Parasocial relationships refer to one-sided emotional connections between a media personality and a viewer, follower, or fan. Although such relationships may offer companionship, a sense of belonging, many emerging research suggests that such relationships cause complex psychological and developmental concerns especially among adolescents. This paper examines how parasocial bonds and parasocial interactions shape formation of identity, emotional regulation, and social behaviour. The research also considers how repeated exposure to curated digital personas could facilitate a partial dissolution of reality and fantasy, altering the understanding of authenticity and interpersonal reciprocity. Furthermore, continuous exposure to parasocial relationships may hinder the real-world social interactions, constrain mutual relationships, and increase social withdrawals. The intersection between parasocial attachment and social media addiction is also examined in terms of compulsive use, seeking validation, and emotional dependence. In striving to place parasocial phenomena within a larger developmental and psychological framework, this paper seeks to build a more nuanced understanding of the way digital-era attachments can influence and affect the lives of adolescents and their ability to function adhering to social structure.
Keywords: parasocial relationships, adolescence, social media engagement, identity development, emotional dependency
How to Cite?: Deeksha Sashikumar, "Parasocial Relationships in Adolescence: Emotional Attachment, Social Media Engagement, and their Impact on Developmental Outcomes", Volume 15 Issue 2, February 2026, International Journal of Science and Research (IJSR), Pages: 840-842, https://www.ijsr.net/getabstract.php?paperid=SR26213201727, DOI: https://dx.dx.doi.org/10.21275/SR26213201727