Parasocial and School Relationships of Preschool Children

• In Event: ICA Plenary Interactive Paper/Poster Session and Reception
  In Interactive Paper Session: Children, Adolescents, and the Media Interactive Poster Session

Abstract

This research answers calls for more examination into the role parasocial relationships play in children’s lives. Specifically, this research explores the impact parasocial relationships have on preschool students’ interpersonal relationships – to see if these media bonds change whom children choose to have relationships with in school. Results of this study found that girls are more likely than boys to select opposite-sex media characters as their favorite and that this selection impacts their friend choices in school. Specifically, girls with male parasocial partners are more likely to play with boys and have male best friends in school. Previously, Maccoby (1998) argued that same-sex relationships create disparate cultures between the sexes and that this divide continues to influence adult life. From this, it is now clear that the media’s increasing importance in the lives of toddlers and young children can have long lasting repercussions on future relationships, in particular, future opposite-sex interactions.

Authors

• Kate Szer Kurtin, California State U - Los Angeles

• Kirstie Farrar, U of Connecticut