Abstract
Many people who struggle with emotional health utilize media as a coping method. This study explored emotional health (loneliness) and parasocial relationships with celebrities and other media figures. An exploratory quantitative survey research design was used to gather information from 46 college students. The sampling method was a non-probability convenience sample. Statistically significant relationships were found in chi-square analyses between gender and frequency of celebrity encounters. Most respondents reported increased parasocial activity in presence of unmet relational needs. Respondents who identified as not white also reported increased parasocial interaction. Findings suggest that the presence of unmet relational needs may play a role in the propensity to engage in parasocial behavior. Future research is important to understanding parasocial interaction with respect to age, race and emotional health. Implications for multi-level social work practice are discussed.