PERCEIVED SOCIAL SUPPORT ON PARASOCIAL RELATIONSHIPS AND FACE-TO-FACE RELATIONSHIPS ASSOCIATED WITH PSYCHOLOGICAL WELL-BEING OF EMERGING ADULTS WHO ARE FANS OF CELEBRITIES

Abstract

Objective: This study aimed to examine the perception of social support in parasocial relationships through media and face-to-face relationships, and their associations with psychological well-being among emerging adults who are fans of celebrities or public figures. Materials and methods: The participants were 202 emerging adults aged 18–29 years who reported being fans of celebrities. Data were collected using four instruments: a demographic questionnaire, the Perceived Social Support Scale for face-to-face relationships, the Perceived Social Support Scale for parasocial relationships, and the Psychological Well-being Scale. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics and hierarchical regression analysis. Results: The findings revealed that perceived social support in face-to-face relationships was significantly and positively associated with psychological well-being. In contrast, perceived social support in parasocial relationships through media showed no significant association with psychological well-being. Conclusion: These results highlight the critical role of face to face relationship in promoting psychological well-being among emerging adults. Parasocial relationships neither enhance nor harm psychological well-being, suggesting that individuals can maintain parasocial connections while still benefiting from the perception of social support in face-to-face relationships without detrimental effects on overall well-being.