The COVID-19 pandemic compelled people to engage in social distancing protocols that
increased media exposure and transitioned social interactions to digital spaces, providing a�…

The COVID-19 pandemic provided an extraordinarily unique opportunity to investigate how
sudden, involuntary alterations to social routines influenced not just social relationships, but�…

Parasocial interaction, or the one-sided relationships individuals form with characters from
television and other media can have negative and positive outcomes. By noting the positive�…

With the rise in accessibility of media personae and celebrities through social media sites,
parasocial relationships (PSRs) can offer a meaningful alternative for individuals who�…

In America, socializing with friends has become a functional alternative to watching
television. Such a drastic change in how we spend free time demands a closer look at media�…

Parasocial relationships (PSRs) are nonreciprocal socio-emotional connections with media
figures such as celebrities or influencers. Social media platforms afford the opportunity for�…

In today's rapidly changing “TV everywhere” environment of ubiquitous and always-
connected screens, and instant social media interaction around and with complex and�…

For several decades, scholars have wondered if lonely individuals might benefit from
emotional connections to media characters (ie parasocial relationships) to alleviate their�…

People regularly form one-sided,“parasocial” relationships (PSRs) with targets incapable of
returning the sentiment. Past work has shown that people engage with PSRs to support�…

Formation of accurate risk perceptions and adoption of protective measures play a key role
in reducing transmission and stopping the spread of infectious diseases. Extant research�…