Parasocial engagement and aggressive communication: neuroticism as a mediating mechanism among Malaysian anime fandom fans

Parasocial engagement has been widely examined in relation to identification and media effects; however, limited research has explored its association with personality traits and interpersonal communication styles. This study investigates this relationship among Malaysian youth anime and manga fans. Drawing on parasocial interaction theory and the Five-Factor Model of personality, a personality-mediated structural model was proposed. A cross-sectional survey was conducted among ( n = 353) Malaysian emerging adults (18–25 years). Data were analyzed using covariance-based structural equation modeling. Data were analyzed using covariance-based structural equation modeling (CB-SEM), and mediation effects were tested using bootstrapping with 5,000 resamples. The measurement model demonstrated good fit (CFI = 0.985; TLI = 0.984; RMSEA = 0.017). Structural results indicated that both parasocial interaction ( β = 0.149, p < .05) and parasocial relationship ( β = 0.215, p < 0.01) were positively associated with aggressive communication style. Additionally, parasocial interaction ( β = 0.406, p < 0.001) and parasocial relationship ( β = 0.333, p < 0.001) were positively associated with neuroticism, which in turn significantly predicted aggressive communication style ( β = 0.456, p < 0.001). Bootstrapped mediation analysis revealed that neuroticism partially mediated the relationships between parasocial engagement and aggressive communication (interaction: indirect = 0.159; relationship: indirect = 0.135). The findings suggest that parasocial engagement is embedded within broader dispositional emotional processes rather than functioning solely as an entertainment-related experience. In the Malaysian fandom context, mediated relational processes appear intertwined with personality structures that shape interpersonal communication tendencies. This study extends parasocial theory cross-culturally and contributes a personality-mediated explanatory model linking mediated bonds and communication outcomes in contemporary digital environments.