Abstract:
The purpose of this study was to investigate the relationship between binge watching, para social relationships and psycho social wellbeing in early adults. It was hypothesized that there is likely to be a relationship between binge watching, para social relationships and psycho social wellbeing in early adults. It was hypothesized that there is likely to be a relationship between demographic variables and binge watching in early adults. It was also hypothesized that parasocial relationships are likely to mediate the relationship between binge watching and psychosocial wellbeing in early adults. Correlational research design was used in this study. A sample of N=250 students including Males=88 and females=162 (M=1.65, SD=0.48) between age range 18-30 years was recruited by using non-probability purposive sampling technique from different universities of Rawalpindi, Islamabad and Kharian. The English version of Binge-Watching Engagement and Symptoms Questionnaire (CHB; Flagelle & Castro-Calvo,2020), Celebrity— Persona Parasocial Interaction Scale (MP; Horton & Wohl, 1956) and Adolescent Mental Health Continuum scale short form (JPA; Iwata & Umesue, 1998) were employed to measure the construct. Pearson product moment correlation analysis resulted as binge watching being positively related with parasocial relationships but being negatively related with psychosocial wellbeing. The results indicate that if binge watching will increase then parasocial relationships will also increase and this in turn decreases psychosocial wellbeing. Demographic variables have no significance with psychosocial wellbeing. Additionally, it was found that parasocial relationships negatively mediated the roles of binge watching and psychosocial wellbeing
