Love Island, body image and mental health

Reality TV ? Does it harm mental health

With the recent death of Love Island reality TV presenter Caroline Flack we have been reminded that a number of contestants on the show have tragically died in similar circumstances.
What is the evidence about reality TV and its impact on mental health?

• The Mental Health Foundation has a good posting from 2019 which summarises areas of concern relating to the welfare of the contestants and the impact on the body image and self esteem of the audience.  It has called for a greater duty of care
• The Digital media and Culture committee has heard evidence during a 2019 a public inquiry into Reality TV.  This includes submissions from broadcasters on what they do to safeguard.
  Care of contestants is an issue.   John Oates Chair of the British Psychological Society Media Ethics Advisory Group and member of the Society’s Ethics Committee has discussed the psychology on the Conversation blog
• ITV has issued duty of care processes in relation to Love Island
• Regulator Ofcom has also made statementsImpact on viewers
• A recent Guardian survey revealed body anxiety worries were often triggered by viewing Love Island style programmes
• On the Young Mind Blogs teenagers have also considered the issue
• the USA Girl Scouts surveys have also raised concerns.Looking for academic articles on social media and metal health?  PsycINFO and PsycARTICLES offers may be the place to search.
  Medical and some mental health articles can be traced on Pubmed
  These include systematic reviews.