Date of Award

Summer 8-1-2026

Document Type

Dissertation

Degree Name

Doctor of Clinical Psychology

Department

Psychology

First Advisor

Virgil Sheets

Second Advisor

Jennifer Schriver

Third Advisor

Elizabeth O'Laughlin

Abstract

Decades of research have attempted to clarify the mechanisms underlying parasocial relationships, or one-sided relationships. Yet, relatively little empirical attention has been given to the subjective experiences of intimacy that occur in these relationships or to making direct comparisons between social and parasocial relational processes within individuals. The present study aimed to address these gaps and to investigate whether selected variables associated with social relationships similarly predicted parasocial relationship strength. Adult participants identified both a meaningful social relationship target and a parasocial target before completing measures of relationship strength, intimacy, attachment style, and cumulative exposure for each relationship type. Hypotheses examined the predictive roles of sex, relationship status, anxious attachment, and cumulative exposure, as well as differences and associations between social and parasocial intimacy. Results showed that cumulative exposure positively predicted both social and parasocial relationship strength, suggesting that repeated engagement may have a similar impact across relational contexts. However, variables associated with reciprocation, including anxious attachment and relationship status, did not significantly predict relationship strength. Participants reported significantly greater intimacy within social relationships than parasocial relationships, and levels of social intimacy were not significantly associated with parasocial intimacy. However, participants did still endorse experiences of intimacy within parasocial contexts. These findings suggest that while parasocial relationships may share some processes with social relationships, they also differ in meaningful ways. Overall, the study supports conceptualizing parasocial relationships as psychologically meaningful but distinct experiences that partially overlap with, rather than fully replicate or compensate for, social relationships. Implications for parasocial theory and evolving relational and digital environments are discussed.

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