Development, Construct Validity, and Measurement Invariance of the Parasocial Relationship With Political Figures (PSR-P) Scale

Abstract. Parasocial theory views ordinary people’s emotional bonding with political figures as a form of parasocial relationship (PSR). Despite the insights it offers, existing measures PSR have been criticized conceptually and psychometrically. We developed new scale (PSR-P) examined construct validity, factor replicability, measurement invariance based on samples from culturally politically diverse countries (i.e., Indonesia, New Zealand, United States). In three studies using panel experts ( N = 20; Study 1), convenience adult sample 212; 2), representative cross-cultural 897; 3), we found that four-item PSR-R provides satisfying well replicable structure scalar across countries. The PSR-P can be utilized to advance application in field social psychology. policy implications findings are also discussed.