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Adolescents’ Views on Celebrity Worship: A Qualitative Study

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Abstract

A phenomenological study was conducted to explore the experiences of celebrity worshipers in Malaysia in order to identify the factors motivating celebrity worship, the meanings and impact gained from the worship experience. A purposive sample of 15 adolescents who identified themselves as celebrity worshipers, were interviewed. Thematic analysis revealed that 3 major factors influenced participants to become celebrity worshipers: celebrity products, personal characteristics of the celebrity, and peer influence. Also, the themes that emerged that described participants’ perceived impact of celebrity worship included emotional impact, development of strong self-determination and cultural awareness, and the enhancement of personal and social relationships. Generally, adolescents did not think there was a negative impact of their worship experiences. The study has revealed insights into how celebrities play an important role by inspiring young generation in positive ways.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Psychology, Faculty of Social Sciences and Liberal Arts, UCSI University, Jalan Menara Gading, Taman Connaught, 56000, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia

    Chin-Siang Ang & Nee-Nee Chan

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  1. Chin-Siang Ang
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  2. Nee-Nee Chan
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Correspondence to Chin-Siang Ang.

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All procedures performed in studies involving human participants were in accordance with the ethical standards of the institutional and/ or national research committee and with the 1964 Helsinki declaration and its later amendments or comparable ethical standards.

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Informed consent was obtained from all individual participants included in the study.

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Ang, CS., Chan, NN. Adolescents’ Views on Celebrity Worship: A Qualitative Study. Curr Psychol 37, 139–148 (2018). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12144-016-9497-0

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