A study published in BMC Psychology suggests a correlation between celebrity obsession and lower cognitive abilities.
Conducted among 1,763 Hungarian adults, the research involved a vocabulary test, a digit symbol substitution test, and a questionnaire designed to gauge celebrity interest.
Participants answered statements like, “I often feel compelled to learn the personal habits of my favorite celebrity,” to assess their level of obsession.
Results indicated a clear link between intense celebrity worship and subpar performance on cognitive tests.
Researchers, however, caution against drawing definitive conclusions from these findings.
The study acknowledged challenges in pinpointing the exact reasons for the fans’ poor cognitive test scores, whether due to inherent struggles with cognitive tasks or because their mental resources were overly dedicated to celebrity details.
The research team highlighted the need for further studies to support the idea that the cognitive effort involved in following a celebrity could detract from attention and cognitive skills needed elsewhere.
They advised a cautious approach to celebrity adulation, stating, “Although our research does not prove that developing a powerful obsession with one’s favorite celebrity causes one to score lower on cognitive tests, it suggests that it might be wise to carefully monitor feelings for [them].”