Health
Grieving the loss of your favorite TV show? You’re not alone, study suggests: 'Perfectly understandable'
Breaking up is hard to do, especially when it comes to a favorite television show, a study found.
When the long-running Australian soap opera series “Neighbours” was canceled after 37 years, there was considerable uproar from its loyal fans.
Surveyed viewers said they experienced emotions of grief as if they had lost a good friend.
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Dr. Adam Gerace, a senior psychology lecturer at Central Queensland University in Australia, launched the study to better understand the factors that stirred up the fans’ raw emotions.
“We often feel a sense of loss when our favorite television series ends because we form relationships with our favorite characters,” Gerace told Fox News Digital.
A psychologist launched a study to better understand the factors that stirred up fans’ raw emotions when a favorite TV show ended. (iStock)
“When a series ends or a [favorite] character dies, people often report feeling sadness and disbelief, almost as if an important relationship is ending in their lives.”
The research was published in the journal PLOS One on June 12.
Understanding ‘parasocial relationships’
Psychologists refer to this phenomenon — in which viewers develop a one-sided connection with the characters in their favorite show — as a “parasocial relationship.”
In previous studies, researchers found that the intensity of the parasocial relationship is the strongest predictor of breakup distress.
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Gerace, the study author, recruited fans of “Neighbours” who lived in Australia and the U.K. to share how they felt that the series was coming to a close.
“I surveyed fans about their feelings of loss and sadness, their reasons for watching the series, how they felt about their [favorite] characters, and to what extent they felt they were able to commemorate the end of this series,” he told Fox News Digital.
The cast of “Neighbours” are shown attending the finale event on June 29, 2022, in Melbourne, Australia. (Getty Images)
Of the 1,289 respondents who answered the survey, 76% were female, with a mean age of 45.
Ninety percent of them viewed an average of five episodes a week. The majority watched the show alone.
“Fans who experienced greater sadness, disbelief and downheartedness were those who were committed to the series,” Gerace said.
“We often feel a sense of loss when our favorite television series ends because we form relationships with our favorite characters.”
Despite feeling shocked that the series ended, the viewers said they felt grateful for having had the series in their lives.
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“They watched it for entertainment and excitement, which makes sense given that it’s a drama serial or soap opera, as well as to think about social issues and be exposed to lifestyles and situations they might not encounter in the everyday world,” he added.
Those who developed stronger connections with their favorite characters experienced more grief and a greater sense of loss.
A ‘virtual friend group’
“The study captures the effects I would expect from regular viewers of a long-running series,” Dr. Pamela Rutledge, director of the Media Psychology Research Center in Newport Beach, California, told Fox Digital News.
Rutledge was not involved in the study.
Streaming now allows people to revisit shows that have ended, so they can experience the same comfort of seeing “old friends,” especially during difficult times, an expert said. (iStock)
Shows like “Neighbours” create a “virtual friend group,” she said — similar to the ensemble casts in such shows as “Friends,” “The Office” and “Cheers” and how fans felt when those shows came to a close.
“Some people find a show … more gratifying than an unsatisfactory job or unreliable friendship.”
Gerace echoed that sentiment, noting that the feelings of sadness and loss that these viewers felt are likely to be similar for other series, including TV shows, movies and books.
“So, if you felt sad and downhearted at the end of ‘Lost’ or ‘Game of Thrones’ or are dreading the end of ‘Yellowstone,’ it’s perfectly understandable,” he said.
Positive effects of parasocial relationships
“Most studies support the positive effects of parasocial relationships in terms of positive emotions, belonging, mindset and social skills,” Rutledge pointed out in an email.
Streaming also now allows people to revisit shows that have ended, so they can experience the same comfort of seeing “old friends,” especially during difficult times, she continued.
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“During the social isolation of the pandemic, ‘The Office’ and ‘Friends’ were at the top of the most-streamed lists because they provided a sense of belonging and connection, decreasing loneliness,” Rutledge added.
Many shows aren’t only entertaining, but can also help people navigate their own lives.
Many shows aren’t only entertaining, but can also help people navigate their own lives, a psychologist said. (iStock)
“Viewers can find meaning and gain insights from the storylines and relationships that they find applicable to their own lives, such as a better understanding of their own emotions or how to handle certain challenges and life choices,” Rutledge said.
“Some people find a show … more gratifying than an unsatisfactory job or unreliable friendship.”
Viewers’ reactions to a show’s cancellation often depend on their individual circumstances.
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“Some parasocial relationships are directly linked to characters, where someone identifies strongly with a character and experiences the show through them, while others have a sense of immersion in the show without the loss of self,” Rutledge said.
The study has several limitations, Gerace acknowledged.
“Thinking about what the show meant and appreciating how it contributed positively to your life can provide some perspective and acceptance,” a psychologist advised. (iStock)
Many who completed the survey described themselves as “big fans” of the show, and the research did not assess how their sense of grief changed over time.
“My sample did consist of viewers who were quite involved in the series. More casual viewers are likely to have experienced less negative reactions to the end of the series,” Gerace said.
Look for ‘new psychological adventures’
People should not feel embarrassed if they have feelings of loss or distress after their favorite show ends, the experts agreed.
“Thinking about what the show meant and appreciating how it contributed positively to your life can provide some perspective and acceptance,” Rutledge said.
The study included viewers who were “quite involved” in the series and were more likely to have experienced negative emotions, the researcher said. (iStock)
One way to deal with the loss is to connect with other fans on social media to share that grief and trade favorite moments or characters.
“Nothing will be as rewarding as the old show in terms of comfort, familiarity and emotional engagement — however, pining for the past for too long isn’t healthy,” Rutledge said.
For more Health articles, visit www.foxnews/health
“Appreciating the lost show and thinking about the things you valued can help a fan look for new characters and storylines that create new psychological adventures.”
A new drug has been approved for the treatment of schizophrenia in adults.
On Thursday, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved COBENFY (xanomeline and trospium chloride), an oral medication that is manufactured by Bristol Myers Squibb in New Jersey.
This marks the first new class of medications for the brain disorder in several decades, according to a press release.
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COBENFY is expected to be available in the U.S. in late October, the company noted.
A new drug has been approved for the treatment of schizophrenia in adults. (iStock)
“Today’s landmark approval of our first-in-class treatment for schizophrenia marks an important milestone for the community, where after more than 30 years, there is now an entirely new pharmacological approach for schizophrenia — one that has the potential to change the treatment paradigm,” said Chris Boerner, PhD, board chair and chief executive officer at Bristol Myers Squibb, in the press release.
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Schizophrenia is a serious mental illness that affects a person’s thoughts, feelings and behaviors.
It often causes hallucinations, delusions, disordered speech and loss of touch with reality, Mayo Clinic states on its website.
COBENFY (xanomeline and trospium chloride) is an oral medication that is manufactured by Bristol Myers Squibb in New Jersey. (Bristol Myers Squibb)
The disorder can also lead to lack of emotional expression, lack of motivation, cognitive dysfunction and social withdrawal.
Approximately 2.8 million people in the U.S. and 24 million people globally are living with schizophrenia.
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The disorder has traditionally been treated with antipsychotic medications, but around 40% of patients do not respond to treatments and 60% experience “inadequate improvement” in symptoms or “intolerable side effects,” studies have shown.
COBENFY is expected to be available in the U.S. in late October, the company noted. (Bristol Myers Squibb)
COBENFY works differently than the currently available schizophrenia medications.
“Due to its heterogeneous nature, schizophrenia is not a one-size-fits-all condition, and people often find themselves in a cycle of discontinuing and switching therapies,” said Rishi Kakar, MD, chief scientific officer and medical director at Segal Trials and investigator in the drug’s clinical trials, in the release.
“Schizophrenia is not a one-size-fits-all condition, and people often find themselves in a cycle of discontinuing and switching therapies.”
“The approval of COBENFY is a transformative moment in the treatment of schizophrenia because, historically, medicines approved to treat schizophrenia have relied on the same primary pathways in the brain.”
“By leveraging a novel pathway, COBENFY offers a new option to manage this challenging condition.”
“Today’s landmark approval of our first-in-class treatment for schizophrenia marks an important milestone for the community,” said Chris Boerner, PhD, board chair and chief executive officer at Bristol Myers Squibb. (iStock)
Sam Clark, founder and CEO at Terran Biosciences — a biotech company that develops treatments and technologies for neurological and psychiatric diseases in New York City — commented on the new approval in a statement sent to Fox News Digital.
“I am excited that the FDA has just approved [COBENFY] as a treatment for patients with schizophrenia, marking a big leap forward in the psychiatry space,” he said.
“These patients live with a difficult disease, and this drug with a novel mechanism of action will surely make a significant impact,” Clark continued.
“We look forward to seeing the renaissance continue as this approval paves the way for future breakthroughs and novel patient-focused therapeutics.”
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The approval follows three phases of clinical trials in which COBENFY was shown to result in a “statistically significant improvement in illness.”
Schizophrenia is a serious mental illness that affects a person’s thoughts, feelings and behaviors and often causes hallucinations and delusions. (iStock)
In terms of safety, the medication’s most common side effects during clinical trials were nausea, indigestion, vomiting, diarrhea, constipation, hypertension, abdominal pain, accelerated heart rate, dizziness and gastroesophageal reflux disease, the release stated.
Patients with certain existing medical conditions may experience other, more serious risks.
For more Health articles, visit www.foxnews.com/health
People should discuss potential complications with a doctor before starting the medication.
Fox News Digital reached out to Bristol Myers Squibb and the Schizophrenia & Psychosis Action Alliance requesting comment.
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Hot on the heels of the National Public Records data breach, which leaked more than 2 billion records, another background check firm has now had a leak.
The company in question, MC2 Data, exposed the sensitive data of around one-third of the U.S. population – 106 million people – to the entire internet.
While data leaks are sometimes unavoidable, in this case, MC2 Data is fully responsible, as it left a database containing 2.2TB of personal data passwordless.
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A woman analyzing data on her computer (Kurt “CyberGuy” Knutsson)
MC2 Data’s negligence led to the data leak
Cybernews broke the story of this security incident, noting that on Aug. 7 its research team discovered that MC2 Data had left a database containing 2.2TB of personal data unprotected and easily accessible to anyone on the internet.
The database contained 106,316,633 records with private information about U.S. citizens, and Cybernews estimates that at least 100 million individuals were affected by this massive data leak.
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The leaked data included names, emails, IP addresses, user agents, encrypted passwords, partial payment information, home addresses, dates of birth, phone numbers, property records, legal records, and family, relatives’ and neighbors’ data as well as employment history. MC2 Data even exposed data of 2,319,873 users who subscribed to its services, including individuals and organizations needing background checks.
MC2 Data base (Cybernews)
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What was the company doing with all that data anyway?
As I mentioned, MC2 Data is a background check firm. It was probably using the data to provide background check services, gathering information on people for clients like employers, landlords or organizations needing to verify things like identities or employment history.
While data collection like this is pretty standard in the background check industry, companies are required to follow strict rules. They have to comply with federal, state and local regulations to make sure their operations are legal and that people’s data stays protected.
“Background-checking services have always been problematic, as cybercriminals would often be able to purchase their services to gather data on their victims,” said Aras Nazarovas, a Cybernews security researcher.
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The data leak is a gold mine for cybercriminals
The world’s most valuable resource is no longer oil but data. Everyone from big tech companies to cybercriminals to small-time marketers is willing to pay a premium for access to this vast amount of information. The biggest concern, however, lies with cybercriminals who can use this data for identity theft and other malicious attacks.
The leaked information of subscribers is particularly concerning, as these individuals could be high-value targets for cybercriminals. The subscribers may include employers, landlords, law enforcement and similar entities.
MC2 Data is yet to issue a statement confirming the breach. We reached out to MC2 Data for a comment but did not hear back before our deadline.
It’s time to invest in identity theft protection
Cybercriminals who have access to this data may attempt identity theft, but with an identity theft protection service, you’ll be notified if and when you are affected. Identity theft companies can monitor personal information like your Social Security number, phone number and email address and alert you if it is being sold on the dark web or being used to open an account. They can also assist you in freezing your bank and credit card accounts to prevent further unauthorized use by criminals.
One of the best parts of using some services is that they might include identity theft insurance of up to $1 million to cover losses and legal fees and a white-glove fraud resolution team where a U.S.-based case manager helps you recover any losses. See my tips and best picks on how to protect yourself from identity theft.
A person scrolling on their cellphone (Kurt “CyberGuy” Knutsson)
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4 ways to protect yourself from data breaches
In addition to opting for an identity theft protection service, you can follow these tips to protect yourself from data breaches.
1. Remove your personal information from the internet: While no service can guarantee the complete removal of your data from the internet, a data removal service is really a smart choice. They aren’t cheap, and neither is your privacy. These services do all the work for you by actively monitoring and systematically erasing your personal information from hundreds of websites. It’s what gives me peace of mind and has proven to be the most effective way to erase your personal data from the internet. By limiting the information available, you reduce the risk of scammers cross-referencing data from breaches with the information they might find on the dark web, making it harder for them to target you. Check out my top picks for data removal services here.
2. Be wary of mailbox communications: Bad actors may also try to scam you through snail mail. The data leak gives them access to your address. They may impersonate people or brands you know and use themes that require urgent attention, such as missed deliveries, account suspensions and security alerts.
3. Be cautious of phishing attempts: Be vigilant about emails, phone calls or messages from unknown sources asking for personal information. Avoid clicking on suspicious links or providing sensitive details unless you can verify the legitimacy of the request. The best way to protect yourself from clicking malicious links that install malware is to have strong antivirus protection installed on all your devices. Get my picks for the best 2024 antivirus protection winners for your Windows, Mac, Android and iOS devices.
4. Monitor your accounts: Breaches of this magnitude will make it a necessity for you to start routinely reviewing your bank accounts, credit card statements and other financial accounts for any unauthorized activity. If you notice any suspicious transactions, report them immediately to your bank or credit card company.
Kurt’s key takeaway
When your business model relies on collecting people’s data and providing services based on that information, you must do everything possible to protect it. This is not only a moral responsibility, it’s also a legal requirement. MC2 Data has failed to meet this obligation, and its negligence puts millions of Americans at risk, many of whom were unaware their data was being collected by the firm. Companies should face strict legal actions and hefty penalties for such incidents rather than just receiving a slap on the wrist.
What do you think should be the consequences for companies that fail to protect consumer data? Let us know by writing us at Cyberguy.com/Contact.
For more of my tech tips and security alerts, subscribe to my free CyberGuy Report Newsletter by heading to Cyberguy.com/Newsletter.
Ask Kurt a question or let us know what stories you’d like us to cover.
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