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Review
. 2025 Aug;34(8):2297-2326.
doi: 10.1007/s00787-025-02701-0. Epub 2025 Apr 12.

The romanticisation of mental health problems in adolescents and its implications: a narrative review

Awa Ndour  1 , Lucy Foulkes  2
Affiliations
Review

The romanticisation of mental health problems in adolescents and its implications: a narrative review

Awa Ndour et al. Eur Child Adolesc Psychiatry. 2025 Aug.

Abstract

Romanticisation is the perception and portrayal of a phenomenon as more attractive, interesting, cool, profound or desirable than it really is. There are concerns that mental health problems are increasingly romanticised, particularly among adolescents, but there is limited research on this topic. This narrative review investigated: (1) what romanticisation is in the context of adolescent mental health problems, (2) why adolescents might romanticise mental health problems, (3) the implications of romanticising mental health problems in adolescence, and (4) what interventions might reduce this phenomenon. Sixty-one publications were reviewed, including qualitative and quantitative analyses, cross-sectional and longitudinal self-report studies and conceptual reviews. Most investigated romanticisation of mental health problems online, with most researchers situated in a Western context. Identity formation, popular media influences and peer influences arose as potential explanatory factors. Negative outcomes to romanticisation were indicated, including the reinforcement of mental health problems and reduced help-seeking; few interventions to reduce the phenomenon have been proposed to date.

Keywords: Adolescents; Mental health; Online; Romanticisation.

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Conflict of interest statement

Declarations. Conflict of interest: The authors declare no competing interests.

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