Older Adults’ Parasocial Relationships with Favorite Television Characters and Depressive Symptoms

Older adults can form parasocial relationships with favorite television characters, and these relationships often serve as sources of companionship. Using the selection, optimization, and compensation model as a guiding framework, this study explored whether or not attachment anxiety and relationship quality with romantic partners and children moderate the associations between parasocial relationships and depressive symptoms. A series of three-way interactions emerged in predicting depressive symptoms. Among other findings, stronger parasocial relationships predicted an increase in depressive symptoms for anxious older adults in low-quality parent-child relationships. Older adults’ individual characteristics and family relationships may qualify how they experience parasocial relationships with favorite television characters.