INTERPERSONAL RELATIONSHIPS, SEXUAL LIFE, BODILY EXPERIENCE AND ON-LINE ACTIVITY: a comparative study between adolescent and young adult cosplayers and non-cosplayers.

Abstract

We have conducted a comparative study between a population of Italian young adults who practise the Cosplay and a group of 'non-cosplayers', exploring several topics such as interpersonal relationships, on-line activity, sexual life and bodily experience in order to contribute to the nationwide understanding of this phenomenon which is still at its beginning. The cosplayers of the studied sample are aged between 15 and 23, with an of 19.8 years. They are mainly female and are composed of average subjects whose principal activity is, as observed, to tailor their own costumes as well as to share their practice within the group. Comparing the two examined groups, the cosplayers reveal a more considerable complexity with regard to their sexual life and their interpersonal relationships experienced, the latter, mainly through virtual platforms. Moreover there's a significant difference between these two groups on how they protect their body. This aspect has been investigated by the test Body Investment Scale (Orbach, Mikulincer, 1998).