Impact of Para-Social Interaction with Anime Characters on Self-Esteem and Subjective Happiness in Young Adults

Abstract

This study investigates the impact of para-social interaction with anime characters on self-esteem and subjective happiness among young adults. The term “para-social interaction” describes the one-sided emotional ties people build with media personalities. In the internet age, anime has emerged as a key venue for these relationships. Three standardized measures the Rosenberg Self-Esteem Scale, the Subjective Happiness Scale (Lyubomirsky & Lepper), and the Para-social Interaction Scale (Rubin, Perse, & Powell, 1985) were filled out by 212 people in the sample, with particular reference to their favorite anime characters. Strong positive associations between para-social contact and happiness (r =.965, p <.001) and self-esteem (r =.964, p <.001) were found using correlational analyses. A regression analysis showed that para-social interaction significantly predicted levels of self-esteem and happiness, explaining 94% of the variance (R² = .938, F (2, 209) = 1588.943, p < .001). Happiness (β =.452, p <.001) and self-esteem (β =.521, p <.001) were also significant predictors. These results imply that developing emotional bonds with anime characters may improve people’s psychological health by boosting life satisfaction and a positive self-image. By demonstrating how anime-based para-social ties affect the mental well-being and emotional fortitude of audiences in the digital age, this study advances media psychology.