Evelyn Smith

Date of Award

2025

Type

Thesis

Major

Psychology

Degree Type

Bachelor of Science in Psychology

Department

Psychology

First Advisor

Dr. Stephanie da Silva

Second Advisor

Dr. Judith Livingston

Third Advisor

Dr. Edward O'Donnell

Abstract

The present study evaluated the correlations between romance readership and paralove strength, as well as paralove strength with self-esteem. With the popularization of the romance genre, previous qualitative studies have shown that readers of romance books receive mood benefits from consuming these novels, as well as social benefits that they apply to their real-life relationships. Additionally, low self-esteem has been shown to have a major effect on relationship satisfaction and the perception of rejection with real-life relationships, but not parasocial relationships. The researcher hypothesized that as romance readership increased, so too would paralove scores, and that as paralove scores increased, self-esteem would decrease. The researcher collected responses from a survey format, and quantified responses using the paralove section of the Multiple-PSR Scale (2011) and Rosenberg Self-Esteem Scale (1979). Correlation was analyzed using Pearson’s R. 68 adult-aged women’s responses were analyzed. The analysis suggests a statistically significant positive correlation between paralove and romance readership of medium strength, but no statistically significant correlation between paralove and self-esteem. The study provides more insight into how paralove is cultivated in the modern age of reading.

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