How Attachment Relates to Psychological Health: The Role of Parasocial Bonds and Sexual Orientation
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.69569/jip.2026.028Keywords:
Attachment style, Emerging adults, Parasocial bond, Psychological health, Sexual orientationAbstract
This study examined whether parasocial bond tendency and sexual orientation mediate the relationship between attachment-related anxiety and psychological health among single Filipino emerging adults, while controlling for daily social media use. The study addressed the limited evidence on how attachment-related anxiety may influence psychological health through parasocial and identity-related factors in this population. Using a quantitative cross-sectional design, data were collected through an online survey from 247 single Filipino social media users aged 18–29. Participants completed the Revised Adult Attachment Scale (RAAS), Celebrity–Persona Parasocial Interaction Scale (CPPI), and World Health Organization Quality of Life–BREF (WHOQOL-BREF). Hayes’ PROCESS Macro Model 6 was used to test the direct and indirect effects. Results showed that attachment-related anxiety significantly and negatively predicted psychological health (B = -7.89, p < .001). Attachment-related anxiety also significantly predicted parasocial bond tendency. However, parasocial bond tendency and sexual orientation did not significantly mediate the relationship between attachment-related anxiety and psychological health, and none of the indirect or serial mediation paths were significant. Daily social media use also did not significantly predict psychological health. The nonsignificant indirect effects suggest that the relationship between attachment-related anxiety and psychological health may operate more directly rather than through parasocial bond tendency, sexual orientation, or daily social media use. These findings indicate that attachment-related anxiety remains a robust predictor of psychological health among single Filipino emerging adults, whereas the proposed mediating variables demonstrated limited explanatory influence within the serial mediation model. The study underscores the clinical and theoretical relevance of attachment-related anxiety in understanding psychological vulnerability among emerging adults. It highlights the need for future research to explore alternative psychological and contextual mechanisms that may better account for variations in psychological health within this population.
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