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.
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“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.”
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This story discusses suicide. If you or someone you know is having thoughts of suicide, please contact the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 988 or 1-800-273-TALK (8255).
A 30-year-old man has been asking people he doesn’t know to sit with him in pubs across the country ever since December of last year, as part of what he calls his “Empty Chairs” campaign.
Dean Perryman came up with the idea after his best friend, Rob Clancy, tragically died by suicide at age 29 just a month earlier.
Wanting to make sure nobody else ever felt alone — even perfect strangers — Perryman started heading out to restaurants and pubs wearing a bright orange hoodie to make his presence obvious to anyone choosing to chat with him.
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Just a few weeks ago, he held his program’s 1,000th meet-up in Leigh-on-Sea, Essex, featuring about 12 attendees — and said he’s proud of how far it has come.
“It has been such an incredible experience. I am loving every second of it still,” the resident of Stratford in East London told news agency SWNS.
Dean Perryman, second from right, has been inviting strangers to sit with him in pubs to help let people know they aren’t alone in life. (Dean Perryman/SWNS)
“When I started, it came from such a place of sadness — and to see how this simple idea has been able to help so many people has been really nice,” he said. “I have been able to meet and connect with so many new people and learn about them. It gives people an opportunity to speak openly if they need it.”
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Perryman works for team-building game company Chicken Rush. He used social media, he said, to create interest in the “Empty Chair” idea, he said.
The events started in London and Essex before the founder began recruiting volunteers to host them across the U.K. — and the rest of the world as well.
Events have since been planned in Manchester, Bedford, Cambridge, Skegness, Gloucester, Leeds, York, Wrexham, and more.
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It has also branched out to other countries, including Colombia, Spain, the United Arab Emirates and Australia.
He said lots of people actually return to the events, especially in smaller rural towns, as people create and build friendships that last long afterward.
Perryman, in orange sweatshirt, back row, has been inviting strangers to sit with him in pubs to encourage connection. “There really isn’t a barrier to entry,” he said. “Whoever needs the space is welcome to come.” (Dean Perryman/SWNS)
Perryman, who has attended 61 himself, said his favorite part of the events is seeing men open up about their troubles, as he feels they need a safe space to do so.
“Some people come because they really want someone to listen to what they have to say,” he said. “Others come because they have the capacity to be there for someone else. Everyone shares their own story, but it stays at the table.”
“No matter who you are, there is a place for you.”
He said the groups have “talked about the difficulty of living in a big city and feeling isolated, but nothing is off the table — we’ve spoken about everything and anything. To give people a place that they can go when they need to talk is incredible.”
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Perryman said he has about 200 more events already lined up — and said he has no plans to stop scheduling them, SWNS reported.
He said there is no pattern in terms of who shows up. Usually, it’s a diverse group of people.
Perryman, right, has been asking people he doesn’t know to sit with him in pubs as part of his “Empty Chairs” suicide prevention campaign. (Dean Perryman/SWNS)
“Every Empty Chairs event you go to, you are going to meet people of different walks of life,” he said. “It is so powerful to show that, no matter who you are, there is a place for you. We have everyone — men, women, young, old. There really isn’t a barrier to entry for this. Whoever needs the space is welcome to come.”
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He also said, “A lot of people come because they’re feeling lonely in a new area, or they want to make new friends.”
He said he hopes that his Empty Chairs campaign can be a lasting legacy for his best friend, Rob — someone he believes needed a similar space.
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“He was the kindest, sweetest guy you could ever hope to meet,” said Perryman. “Like a lot of men, he wasn’t the biggest sharer. He was very much the life and soul of anywhere you went, but he wasn’t someone who would be the first to open up about it if he was feeling some type of way.”
“To now be in a position where Empty Chairs looks like it could be a legacy for Rob is amazing,” Perryman added.
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A 78-year-old Oklahoma woman who was diagnosed with polio as a child and was the last American to rely on an iron lung to live has died.
Martha Lillard found out she had the once-feared disease when she was 5 years old, which left her paralyzed from the neck down, and required her to use the machine to help her breathe while she slept.
Lillard contracted COVID-19 twice during the pandemic, which left her in the machine nearly 24 hours a day.
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“They told her she wasn’t supposed to live past 20 years old,” her younger sister, Cindy McVey, told The Associated Press on Friday. “She had the enthusiasm and the drive to continue living and make the best of her life.”
Despite having polio, Lillard was able to go to school two hours a day as a child, and she had tutors the rest of the time. She also used an intercom phone system that allowed her to interact with her teachers and classmates from home.
Martha Lillard rests in her iron lung in Shawnee, Oklahoma. (Cindy McVey/AP Photo, File)
Lillard was even able to take road trips as a child because of a custom trailer that could accommodate the iron lung and her father making sure their hotels had wide enough doors for the machine.
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An iron lung is a negative-pressure ventilator that would help a patient with paralyzed lung muscles breathe.
A row of iron lungs is seen inside in a Los Angeles hospital in 1950. (Bettmann Archive)
The disease once caused thousands of cases of paralysis in children during outbreaks each year in the first part of the 20th century before a vaccine became available in 1955.
By 1979, polio was considered eliminated in the U.S.
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Later, Lillard was able to regain the use of her left arm and legs through therapy and was even able to drive for a time.
She lived independently for many years, even getting married earlier this year to a man from Egypt she corresponded with for two decades after he was able to obtain a visa.
A nurse prepares children for a polio vaccine shot as part of a citywide vaccine test on elementary school students. (Bettmann Archive)
“They were really soul mates,” McVey said. “He’s extremely brokenhearted.”
Lillard, who wrote poetry and volunteered with the Humane Society, according to her sister, had just 25% lung capacity before she was diagnosed with COVID.
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She died of chronic pulmonary failure and post-polio syndrome, according to her death certificate.
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Her sister added that it was related to the effects of long-haul COVID.
The Associated Press contributed reporting.
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Reducing your risk of cancer death may be as simple as taking brief breaks for physical activity throughout the day, according to a new observational study.
The study, led by researchers from the University of Glasgow studying the association between cancer and prolonged sedentary behavior, found that participants who regularly interrupted prolonged sitting with physical activity had a lower risk of cancer death.
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“This study adds to growing evidence that prolonged sedentary behavior is an independent health risk,” Dr. Georgia Spear, chief of breast imaging at Northwestern Medicine, told Fox News Digital.
“While it does not prove that sitting causes cancer, it suggests that long, uninterrupted periods of sitting are associated with a higher risk of cancer mortality,” Spear explained. “The findings reinforce existing public-health recommendations that regular movement throughout the day is an important component of cancer prevention.”
Prolonged sedentary periods are associated with increased risk of cancer death, researchers observed. (iStock)
The researchers monitored 91,292 volunteer participants in the U.K. who wore movement-tracking devices on their wrists for seven days to track their sedentary habits. The scientists followed the volunteers’ health outcomes over the course of about 12 years.
The researchers defined prolonged sedentary behavior as any bout that lasted “at least 30 minutes and during which at least 90% of the time was sedentary.”
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They defined interrupted sitting as sessions that lasted fewer than 30 minutes or were interrupted by brief periods of physical activity.
Each additional hour per day of prolonged sedentary behavior was associated with a 10% higher risk of cancer death, the researchers reported in their study, published by PLOS Medicine.
Light physical activity, including household chores, such as ironing, are associated with reduced cancer death risk. (iStock)
Replacing one hour of sitting each day with light activity was associated with a 12% lower risk of cancer death. Replacing 30 minutes with moderate activity was linked to an 8% lower risk, and replacing just five minutes with vigorous activity was associated with a 22% lower risk.
The researchers classified light physical activity as walking at a low speed and performing household chores, such as ironing a shirt or washing dishes.
These findings should be interpreted with caution, the researchers wrote, “because the study cannot prove causality.”
The volunteers may not represent the wider population, they noted, “and the activity monitor captured behavior only during a limited period without showing the context of sedentary behavior, such as work, television viewing or driving.”
Spear said that existing research has linked sedentary behavior to obesity, diabetes, cardiovascular disease and several cancers.
Breaking up periods of sitting or reclining with physical activity is key to reducing the risk of cancer death, researchers found. (iStock)
“What is notable here is the finding that how people sit appears to matter, not just the total amount,” she said. “Breaking up sitting with regular movement may provide measurable health benefits.”
According to Spear, other simple lifestyle strategies can be highly effective at reducing cancer-death risk.
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“Stand and move every 30 to 60 minutes, take short walking breaks, including after meals, use the stairs, walk during phone calls and incorporate light activity throughout the day,” she recommended.
“Combined with regular exercise, maintaining a healthy weight, limiting alcohol, not smoking and staying current with recommended cancer screening, these habits can help reduce the risk of breast cancer and other chronic diseases.”
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