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

## TL;DR

This study explores how celebrity worship relates to vulnerable narcissism through commitment to parasocial relationships.

## Contribution

The paper introduces commitment to parasocial relationships as a mediator between vulnerable narcissism and celebrity worship.

## Key findings

- Greater celebrity worship is linked to higher vulnerable narcissism and parasocial commitment.
- Parasocial commitment partially mediates the relationship between vulnerable narcissism and celebrity worship.
- The findings support the role of parasocial relationships in celebrity worship dynamics.

## Abstract

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.