Commodified upbringings: A narrative review on commercial determinants of child and adolescent mental health

Introduction: The mental health of children and adolescents has become a major global health concern, with increasing diagnoses and use of psychotropic drugs. The commercial determinants of health (CDoH) paradigm links economic and social forces to health outcomes. Highlighting the influence of industries such as food, pharmaceuticals, technology, social media, gambling, alcohol, tobacco and pornography on the mental health of this population is crucial. Materials and methods: This narrative review synthesises existing literature on the impact of commercial determinants on child and adolescent mental health. A comprehensive search was conducted using PubMed, PsycINFO and Google Scholar, covering publications from 2000 to 2024. The review focused on peer-reviewed articles, reports and relevant grey literature examining the influence of commercial practices on mental health. Results and discussion: The review found 45 studies from different countries and industries, highlighting how commercial practices and exposure to their content negatively impact children’s and adolescents’ mental health. Beyond traditional industries like tobacco, food and alcohol, the review explores others. Social media use is associated with increased anxiety and depression due to social comparison and cyberbullying. Easy access to pornographic content distorts perceptions of relationships and sexuality, contributing to anxiety, depression and behavioural disorders. The gambling industry’s normalisation of betting through advertising influences addictive behaviour from an early age. Aggressive marketing by the pharmaceutical industry can lead to excessive or inappropriate use of diagnostic labels and psychotropic medications, exacerbating mental health problems and posing significant ethical and public health challenges. Conclusion: Commercial determinants significantly impact child and adolescent mental health, necessitating a multifaceted approach to address these challenges. Parents and children’s education, implementation of public policies and regulation of harmful commercial practices are essential to protect and promote mental health in future generations. Understanding and mitigating the effects of CDoH are crucial for ensuring a healthy developmental environment for children.