Adaptation of Parasocial Relationships in Social Media Scale: its association with loneliness, social media use and life satisfaction

Abstract

The advancement of digital technologies, particularly social media, has significantly altered the dynamics of connection formation, making the study of parasocial relationships highly relevant. This study analyzed the psychometric properties of the Parasocial Relationships in Social Media Scale (PRISM-TR) within a Turkish sample group. The research involved two distinct sub-studies utilizing different samples. Study I (N = 428 university students) employed comprehensive psychometric methods, including Confirmatory Factor Analysis (CFA), Item Response Theory (IRT), and reliability analyses, to support the scale’s four factor structure, internal consistency, and measurement invariance across gender. Study II (N = 674 students) investigated the interplay between the variables by testing a serial mediation model. The findings revealed that loneliness significantly predicts parasocial relationships, a connection that is serially mediated by social media use and life satisfaction. Collectively, these results validate the PRISM-TR scale’s effectiveness for evaluating parasocial relationships in this context while simultaneously highlighting the complex sequential influence of digital media engagement and life satisfaction factors in shaping these modern bonds. The findings carry important implications for psychological counseling and digital literacy programs targeting young adults.