Enhancing Presence, Deepening Fan Intensity: How Presence in Immersive Video Shapes Psychological Closeness to Performers
This study investigates the mechanism through which presence in immersive video influences audience parasocial intensity, with particular attention to the moderating role of camera distance. Employing a within-subjects design, the experiment manipulated shooting distance (1.2 m vs. 7.6 m) in 180-degree stereoscopic videos of a Japanese idol performance presented via head-mounted display. Presence was assessed using the SUS Presence Scale and measures of perceived psychological overlap, and mixed-design ANOVA was used to test hypothesized effects. For the first time, camera distance was treated as a controllable design variable, revealing that closer proximity significantly enhances perceived possibilities for action, social presence, and observability, thereby strengthening parasocial emotional connection. These findings underscore the critical role of camera distance in modulating the causal relationship between presence and affective intensity in immersive media.