Psychology explains sadness after finishing a book or series
People may experience grief-like responses due to one-sided emotional connections with fictional characters and worlds, according to research.
People who feel low or sad after finishing a book, web series, or movie may be experiencing an attachment to those fictional worlds, according to a report by the Times of India.
Researchers use the term parasocial relationship to describe the one-sided emotional connection audiences develop with media personalities or fictional characters. While these relationships are not reciprocal like real friendships, the feelings of affection and emotional investment can be genuine.
A 2021 study in the Journal of Social and Personal Relationships found that attachment styles influence how deeply people immerse themselves in narratives. Researchers at York University suggested stories can offer interpersonal closeness without the risks of rejection or conflict found in real relationships.
Psychologist Adam Gerace surveyed 1,289 fans following the 2022 end of the Australian television series Neighbours. The study found that stronger grief and loss reactions were linked to a greater sense of belonging to the fan community and stronger connections to favourite characters.
The research noted that people who watched the series to experience different lifestyles, rather than just to pass time, reported stronger reactions to the ending. The end of a series can produce grief-like responses as viewers say goodbye to characters and environments that were part of their lives.
Feeling nostalgic or temporarily low after a story ends does not indicate a psychological problem. It may simply reflect how involved a person was in the experience or the loss of a familiar routine.