Looking to the stars: Validating the existence of para-couple relationships among emerging adults

Abstract

People obtain social information from the media - particularly when they lack real-world experience. This occurs most prominently among younger viewers who seek to learn about sexual and romantic interactions and relationships. This is due both to their lack of first-hand experience in these types of situations as well as the developmental stage they are experiencing (i.e., intimacy vs. isolation; Erikson, 1968). In light of this, we proposed a construct called para-couple relationships or long-term associations with a media couple that develop during viewing but endure beyond the media exposure situation. Across 2 studies, we created and validated a scale to capture para-couple relationships among emerging adults and tested this construct in relation to other developmentally related variables. Our results inform media entertainment and developmental research alike, in particular, as it relates to emerging adults’ relationships with media couples and their romantic and sexual socialization.