Under the Spotlight – Mental Wellbeing of Participants in Slovenian Reality Shows

The popularity and diversity of reality shows have significantly grown in recent decades, accompanied by an increase in complaints from participants worldwide about the negative impacts of filming on their well-being. This study aims to in­vestigate how participation in reality shows in Slovenia affected the well-being of contestants. We aimed to research whether participants experience stress during filming, how their well-being is taken care of by the members of the production team, and whether they are exposed to stress even after the airing of the show. The study involved ten participants from the shows MasterChef Slovenia and The Bachelor. Data were collected using a combined method, including interviews and the Perceived Stress Scale. Interview responses were categorized into four thematic areas: Well-being, Interpersonal Relationships, Filming Conditions, and Consequences of Participation. The participants reported experiencing stress, which was often described as positive. The majority had a predominantly positive experience of filming, had positive relationships with others, and acknowledged that the staff to some extent cared about their well-being during filming. Reports on the consequences of participation were mostly positive or neutral. The questi­onnaire results indicated that the stress experienced by the participants was not exceptionally burdensome, with most of the participants successfully coping with the stressors they encountered. The study faced several limitations, including non­-random sampling, a small sample size, and retrospective reporting. We see the practical value of the research primarily for employees in the production of reality shows, who bear responsibility for the mental well-being of participants during filming, and well as for future reality show participants.