Degree
BS (Social Sciences & Liberal Arts)
Faculty / School
School of Economics and Social Sciences (SESS)
Department
Department of Social Sciences & Liberal Arts
Date of Award
Spring 2026
Date of Submission
2026-06-28
Advisor
Ms. Hajrah Rahman
Committee
Dr. Anum Tariq
Project Type
SSLA Culminating Experience
Access Type
Restricted Access
Keywords
parasocial relationships, fictional characters, social anxiety, university students, Pakistan
Abstract
Parasocial relationships are one-sided bonds that people form with media or literature figures, including fictional characters. Research suggests that these relationships might serve compensatory social functions, especially for people who experience difficulties in real-world social situations. However, most studies have focused on real celebrities within Western contexts. The present research studied the relationship between social anxiety symptoms and parasocial relationships with fictional characters among Pakistani university students. Based on prior findings and theories, such as the parasocial compensation hypothesis, it was hypothesised that people who report high levels of social anxiety symptoms would also report stronger parasocial relationships. A quantitative cross-sectional design was used with 137 university students in Pakistan aged 18 to 25 years. Data was collected through an online questionnaire, including a demographic form, the Celebrity-Persona Parasocial Interaction Scale (CPPI), and the Social Interaction Anxiety Scale (SIAS). Data analysis was conducted using JASP. Descriptive statistics showed slightly high levels of parasocial relationship strength. Pearson correlation showed a weak and non-significant positive relationship between social anxiety symptoms and parasocial relationship strength (r = 0.051, p = 0.279). Linear regression analysis also showed that social anxiety did not significantly predict parasocial relationship strength (F(1, 135) = 0.346, p = 0.557, R² = 0.003). The hypothesis was hence not supported. Results suggest that parasocial relationships with fictional characters might be influenced by other factors, such as identity exploration. The study contributes by focusing on fictional characters in a Pakistani context. It also highlights the need to study other psychological and cultural factors that influence parasocial relationships.
Pages
61
Recommended Citation
Hashim, Y. (2026). Social Anxiety Symptoms and Parasocial Attachments to Fictional Characters: A Quantitative Study Among Pakistani University Students (Unpublished undergraduate project). Institute of Business Administration, Pakistan. Retrieved from https://ir.iba.edu.pk/sslace/413
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