"Intimacy at a Distance" in Later Life: Parasocial Relationship and Its Associations with Loneliness and Well-Being Among Older Adults.
Abstract
Loneliness among older adults is a growing public health concern, given its close association with their overall well-being. Drawing on the social surrogacy hypothesis, which suggests that parasocial relationship (PSR) can provide a sense of belonging and social connection, this study examined whether PSR is indirectly associated with subjective well-being through different dimensions of loneliness among older adults. Specifically, we adopted a multidimensional perspective on loneliness by distinguishing among family, romantic, and social loneliness. We also investigated whether these indirect associations would be moderated by gender. Using cross-sectional survey data from 934 adults aged 60 and over in South Korea, we found that PSR was indirectly associated with positive affect and life satisfaction through romantic and social loneliness. Notably, the indirect effects of PSR on positive affect and life satisfaction through social loneliness varied by gender, such that these effects were significant for older men but not for older women. These findings extend the social surrogacy hypothesis to understanding PSR's role in older adults' loneliness and well-being.