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Frames and counter-frames giving meaning to dementia: A framing analysis of media content

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  • Van Gorp, Baldwin
  • Vercruysse, Tom

Abstract

Media tend to reinforce the stigmatization of dementia as one of the most dreaded diseases in western society, which may have repercussions on the quality of life of those with the illness. The persons with dementia, but also those around them become imbued with the idea that life comes to an end as soon as the diagnosis is pronounced. The aim of this paper is to understand the dominant images related to dementia by means of an inductive framing analysis. The sample is composed of newspaper articles from six Belgian newspapers (2008–2010) and a convenience sample of popular images of the condition in movies, documentaries, literature and health care communications. The results demonstrate that the most dominant frame postulates that a human being is composed of two distinct parts: a material body and an immaterial mind. If this frame is used, the person with dementia ends up with no identity, which is in opposition to the Western ideals of personal self-fulfilment and individualism. For each dominant frame an alternative counter-frame is defined. It is concluded that the relative absence of counter-frames confirms the negative image of dementia. The inventory might be a help for caregivers and other professionals who want to evaluate their communication strategy. It is discussed that a more resolute use of counter-frames in communication about dementia might mitigate the stigma that surrounds dementia.

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  • Van Gorp, Baldwin & Vercruysse, Tom, 2012. "Frames and counter-frames giving meaning to dementia: A framing analysis of media content," Social Science & Medicine, Elsevier, vol. 74(8), pages 1274-1281.
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:socmed:v:74:y:2012:i:8:p:1274-1281
    DOI: 10.1016/j.socscimed.2011.12.045
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Wallis, Patrick & Nerlich, Brigitte, 2005. "Disease metaphors in new epidemics: the UK media framing of the 2003 SARS epidemic," Social Science & Medicine, Elsevier, vol. 60(11), pages 2629-2639, June.
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    2. Fátima Cuadrado & Lucia Lackova & Marina Mikulajová & Adoración Antolí & Veronika Boleková & Michal Gellen & Julia Vacas, 2023. "Framing influence of emotions and attitudes towards Alzheimer’s disease on Slovak and Spanish laypersons: a cross-cultural approach," Palgrave Communications, Palgrave Macmillan, vol. 10(1), pages 1-10, December.
    3. Gary Witham & Carol Haigh & Sharon Foy, 2014. "The challenges of health professionals in meeting the needs of vulnerable patients undergoing chemotherapy: a focus group study," Journal of Clinical Nursing, John Wiley & Sons, vol. 23(19-20), pages 2844-2853, October.
    4. Jens‐Uwe Wunderlich, 2020. "Positioning as Normative Actors: China and the EU in Climate Change Negotiations," Journal of Common Market Studies, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 58(5), pages 1107-1123, September.
    5. Jian Xu & Yongrong Cao, 2019. "The image of Beijing in Europe: findings from The Times, Le Figaro, Der Spiegel from 2000 to 2015," Place Branding and Public Diplomacy, Palgrave Macmillan, vol. 15(3), pages 185-197, September.
    6. Ribeiro, Barbara & Hartley, Sarah & Nerlich, Brigitte & Jaspal, Rusi, 2018. "Media coverage of the Zika crisis in Brazil: The construction of a ‘war’ frame that masked social and gender inequalities," Social Science & Medicine, Elsevier, vol. 200(C), pages 137-144.

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