Akademik Veri Yönetim Sistemi
TURK PSIKOLOJI DERGISI, cilt.32, sa.79, ss.52-66, 2017 (SSCI)
The objectives of the present study were to explore the relationships between parasocial interaction with the favorite characters in TV serials and marriage satisfaction, psychological symptoms and certain socio-demographic variables (age, education, socio-economic level) by using the ratings of TV serials among women in Turkey. In order to do so, a sample group containing 1232 women residing in Ankara, Istanbul, Izmir, Samsun and Diyarbakir was studied. The demographics of participants and the variables related to TV viewing were collected by using a Demographic Information Form, Parasocial Interaction Scale, Parasocial Separation Scale, Cognitive-Behavioral Participation Scale, Married Life Scale and the Short Inventory of Symptoms. The statistical analyses revealed that expected and significant relationships between parasocial interaction and all other variables. As education level dropped, parasocial interaction and psychological symptom scores increased and marriage satisfaction scores decreased. Women coming from lower SES had higher parasocial interaction and psychological symptom scores and lower marriage satisfaction scores than women from other SES. In regression analysis, women's education, perceived romantic effect of serials, the number of Turkish serials watched, the level of liking them, and married life happiness and depression symptoms emerged as variables that predict parasocial interaction. In sum, the results showed that parasocial ties with TV serial characters are closely related to Turkish women's psychological health and marriage satisfaction.