The Girls Scouts are warning of the dangers of reality TV after a study by the Girl Scouts Research Institute concluded that reality shows are having a negative effect on young women, TMZ.com reports.

The study found that reality television "more frequently portrays girls and women in competition with one another rather than in support or collaboration. This perpetuates a ‘mean-girl’ stereotype and normalizes this behavior among girls," the story reports.

The study concluded: “Teen girls who regularly view reality TV accept and expect a higher level of drama, aggression, and bullying in their own lives, and measure their worth primarily by their physical appearance."

The story notes: “It wasn’t all bad news … the GSRI says 68% of girls surveyed agree reality shows ‘make me think I can achieve anything in life’ and 48% believe they ‘help me realize there are people out there like me.’"

The Girl Scouts said: "We don’t want girls to avoid reality TV, but want them, along with their parents, to know what they are getting into when they watch it."