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Framing Responsibility for Depression in News Media: A Content Analysis of Depression Coverage on Sina Weibo

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  • Xiaoxia Ma
  • Mastura binti Mahamed
  • Aryaty binti Alwie

Abstract

Depression stands as a pivotal health issue, notable both within the medical community and in society at large, and it is a leading contributor to disability. The prevalence of depression is on the rise, with a divergence of views on its cause attribution and solution responsibility for addressing it. It is crucial, therefore, to inform the public about these complexities. Given that news media are pivotal in disseminating health information and significantly shape public perceptions, attitudes, emotions, and the assignment of responsibility, this research employs a quantitative content analysis to assess the prevalence of framing responsibility for both the causes and potential solutions of depression at individual, social network, and societal levels. The results show that solution responsibilities for depression were reported more commonly than the causes. Meanwhile, attribution of responsibility for causes was tended to be at the individual, while solutions were on society. Social network played a major role in attributing both casual and problem-solving responsibilities as an independent level. Further, state-controlled media focused on societal responsible for addressing the issue and emphasized individual-level causal responsibilities more than market-oriented media organizations, which is likely to make societal-level responsibility attribution.

Suggested Citation

  • Xiaoxia Ma & Mastura binti Mahamed & Aryaty binti Alwie, 2024. "Framing Responsibility for Depression in News Media: A Content Analysis of Depression Coverage on Sina Weibo," Studies in Media and Communication, Redfame publishing, vol. 12(4), pages 17-27, December.
  • Handle: RePEc:rfa:smcjnl:v:12:y:2024:i:4:p:17-27
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    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Marmot, M. & Allen, J.J., 2014. "Social determinants of health equity," American Journal of Public Health, American Public Health Association, vol. 104(S4), pages 517-519.
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    JEL classification:

    • R00 - Urban, Rural, Regional, Real Estate, and Transportation Economics - - General - - - General
    • Z0 - Other Special Topics - - General

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