Vulnerable Narcissism and Celebrity Worship: The Mediating and Moderating Role of Commitment to Parasocial Relationships

The current study further investigated the relationship between celebrity worship and vulnerable narcissism by examining the mediating role of commitment to parasocial relationships to a celebrity or media figure. Positive relationships among the variables emerged such that greater celebrity worship was associated with higher levels of vulnerable narcissism and commitment to parasocial relationships. The degree of commitment to parasocial relationships was also positively related to levels of vulnerable narcissism. Commitment to parasocial relationships also partially mediated the relationship between vulnerable narcissism and celebrity worship. These results suggest the importance of investigating the parasocial component of celebrity worship and support prior research concerning the connection between celebrity worship and vulnerable narcissism.