Neighbours fans 'suffered grief like losing a loved one' when the TV soap ended, study finds
Daily MailNeighbours fans suffered 'strong grief' and feelings similar to losing a loved one when the TV soap was cancelled, new research has revealed. Neighbours fans suffered 'strong grief' and feelings similar to losing a loved one when the TV soap was cancelled, new research has revealed Neighbours, which returned on streaming service Freevee last September 14 months after the 'finale' was shown on Channel 5 in the UK, provided a launchpad to fame for stars including Kylie Minogue, Jason Donovan, Margot Robbie and Natalie Imbruglia They explained that parasocial relationships are one-sided relationships, where one person extends emotional energy, interest and time, while the other party is completely unaware of the other's existence. Study author Doctor Adam Gerace said: 'The conclusion of Neighbours provided a rare and timely opportunity to examine fans' grief experiences following the end of potentially very established parasocial relationships. Researchers found that when the cancellation of the show was announced in March 2022, fans experienced strong grief, loss, and sometimes a lack of closure - implying that strong 'parasocial' relationships link TV viewers and their favourite programmes Dr Gerace, a senior lecturer in the College of Psychology at CQ University, Australia, said: 'Celebration of the series and acknowledgement of its importance to fans was evident in the months leading up to the final episode.
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