The relationship between emotional experience and attachment in horror films: the moderating effect of gender

This study aims to explore the relationship between college students' emotional experience when watching horror films and their attachment in the context of Chinese culture, and to examine whether gender plays a moderating role in this relationship. The research method adopted a questionnaire survey approach, Emotional Experience of Horror Films Questionnaire for College Students and the College Students ' Attachment Scale. A random sample of 400 college students was used to measure their attachment and emotional experience of horror films. The results show that:(1) college students ' emotional experience of horror films, the closeness dimension of attachment, and gender are negative correlated; (2) gender plays a moderating role in the relationship between emotional experience of horror films and attachment, men enjoy horror films more than women. This study reveals the impact of attachment on the emotional experience of horror films, and proposes that gender plays a key role as a key factor, which provides important significance for future horror films to be used for emotional regulation or psychological intervention.