Need to belong, interpersonal cognitive distortions and parasocial relationships among university students

Abstract

The present study sought to examine the relationship between need to belong, interpersonal cognitive distortions and parasocial relationship among university students. A sample of 250 participants consisting of 125 students from semi-government universities (Bahria University and Air University) and 125 students of government universities (Quaid-e-Azam University and NUML) were obtained. The main objective of this study was to determine the relationship between study variables, assess the gender differences and examine the affect of interpersonal cognitive distortions and need to belong on formation of parasocial relationships among university students. It was hypothesized that there will be significant positive relationship between need to belong and parasocial relationship among university students. Also, females were predicted to have stronger parasocial relationship with media figures compared to males. It was hypothesized that significant positive relationship will be present between parasocial relationship and unrealistic relationship expectation among university students. Furthermore, a positive significant relationship between interpersonal rejection and parasocial relationship among university students was also hypothesized. For assessing the need to belong, Leary, Kelly, Cottrel, and Schreindorfer, (2013) Need to Belong Scale was utilized, for measuring interpersonal cognitive distortion, the Hamamci and Buyukozturk, (2004) Interpersonal Cognitive Distortion Scale was utilized, and for parasocial relationship Brown and Bocarnea, (2007) Celebrity Persona Parasocial Interaction Scale was utilized. Hence, the findings of this study indicated significant positive relationship between need to belong and parasocial relationship besides positive significant relationship between parasocial relationship and interpersonal cognitive distortions and interpersonal rejection, unrealistic relationship expectations and interpersonal misperception among university students. Furthermore, no significant gender differences were revealed for parasocial relationship, need to ix belong and interpersonal cognitive distortions. However, the outcomes of present study have important implications in educational settings by devising a counselling services for university students having interpersonal cognitive distortions and high need to belong.