Fan Culture and Emotional Well-Being: A Multi-Scale Mixed-Methods Examination of Parasocial Relationships Among Indian Young Adults

Abstract

Parasocial Relationships (PSRs) are one-sided emotional bonds that individuals form with media figures that they have never met. Despite India’s 760 million internet users nd highly engaged fan cultures, the mental health implications of PSR involvement among Indian young adults remain almost unstudied. This study examined the associations between PSR involvement and mental health outcomes like loneliness, depression, and self-esteem in 60 Indian young adults (ages 18-25 years) using a convergent mixed-methods design. PSR involvement was measured using the PRISM and CPPI scales, while the mental health outcomes were measured using PHQ-9 (for depression), the Rosenberg Self-Esteem scale (for self-esteem), and the UCLA Loneliness Scale (for loneliness). A focused group discussion (FGD) with 12 high-PSR participants provided qualitative depth to the study. PSR involvement significantly predicted depression (r = .316, p = .014), with the strongest link shown in the companionship dimension. Self-esteem effects were observed in group comparisons, but could only draw a trend-level association in mediation analysis. Qualitative analysis proposed PSRs as tools for emotional regulation, comfort, and coping behaviors. They were also presented as identity scaffolds and culturally stigmatized relationships whose concealment produced feelings of loneliness. The study findings suggest that PSR involvement signals pre-existing emotional and social vulnerability rather than causing mental health difficulties. Implications for mental health intervention among Indian college students are discussed.