Celebrity role models and their impact on mental health of children and adolescents: Implications and suggestions

In tandem with increased exposure of children and adolescents to the media during current digital age, it is also increasingly important to discuss about the influence of celebrity role models on this group. Glorified media portrayals of celebrity lifestyles and their choices may have a knock-on effect on mental health and trigger imitative behaviours by children and adolescents. In this report, we examine the impact of negative celebrity role models on young children and propose some recommendations, both from a public health as well as individual standpoint, to help mitigate this impact and, instead, promote healthy role modelling.