The role of wishful identification, emotional engagement, and parasocial relationships in repeated viewing of live-streaming games: A social cognitive theory perspective

Grounded in Bandura’s (2001) social cognitive theory of mass communication and Giles' (2002) model of parasocial relationship (PSR) development, the current research examines how a viewer's wishful identification with an online video game streaming personality and emotional engagement with other viewers lead to behavioral loyalty through PSR with their favorite live-streamer. To test the proposed mediation model, the researchers conducted a survey using a representative sample drawn from a national panel of a professional survey firm in South Korea. Results of a mediation analysis employing structural equation modeling reveal that both wishful identification and emotional engagement have indirect effects on behavioral loyalty through PSR. Put another way, a viewer's likeliness to continue viewing a live-streaming game increase as the viewer develops stronger PSR. The current research also demonstrates that wishful identification and engagement with others/streamers develop into PSR, as suggested by Giles' PSR development model. •Social cognitive theory explains the behavior of viewing live-streaming games.•We examine the role of parasocial relationships (PSR) in repeated viewing.•Wishful identification (WI) and emotional engagement (EE) predict PSR.•PSR has a positive effect on repeated viewing.•PSR fully mediates the effect of WI and EE on repeated viewing.