The Invisible Bond: A Comprehensive Review of Parasocial  Relationships, Self-Esteem, Coping Strategies, and  Psychological Well-Being Among Young Adults

Author(s)	Ms. ANOUSHKA VASHISHTH
Country	India
Abstract	The landscape of human interaction has undergone a paradigm shift driven by modern digital media ecosystems. Horton and Wohl’s (1956) foundational concept of Parasocial Relationships (PSRs)—one-sided emotional attachments formed by audiences toward media figures—has evolved beyond passive television viewing. Today's social media architectures (e.g., Instagram, YouTube, TikTok, and X) foster continuous algorithmic exposure, perceived two-way accessibility, and micro-budget authenticity. This review provides a multi-theoretical and empirical synthesis of the paper "The Invisible Bond," Analyzing how parasocial engagement interacts with self-esteem, coping mechanisms, and psychological well-being among young adults (N = 110, Delhi/NCR). By synthesizing quantitative psychometric assessments with qualitative narratives, this paper moves past simplistic binary frameworks (labelling PSRs as purely "adaptive" or "maladaptive") to articulate a nuanced model of parasocial engagement as a complementary emotional resource.
Keywords	Parasocial Relationships (PSRs), Attachment Theory, Uses and Gratifications Theory, Social Cognitive Theory, Social Comparison Theory, Self-esteem, Coping Strategies, Psychological Well-being, Emotion Regulation, Healthy Boundaries.
Field	Sociology > Philosophy / Psychology / Religion
Published In	Volume 7, Issue 4, July-August 2026
Published On	2026-08-09

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