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Access Type
WSU Access
Date of Award
January 2024
Degree Type
Dissertation
Degree Name
Ph.D.
Department
Communication
First Advisor
Fred Vultee
Abstract
This study examines the effects of media framing on public perception and support for health policies, with a particular focus on the attribution of chronic disease causes. The research confirms that media portrayals significantly impact individuals' attributions of the causes of chronic diseases. An online experiment employing a 3 (frame: genetic, behavioral, and social determinants of health [SDOH]) x 2 (source: health expert and health expert with layperson) design was conducted. A total of 489 respondents participated in the study, and a series of multivariate and univariate analyses were performed. The findings showed Genetic frames increased genetic attributions, behavioral frames elevated behavioral attributions, and SDOH frames shifted attributions towards social contexts. However, exposure to SDOH frames did not significantly increase policy support compared to genetic or behavioral frames. Additionally, the inclusion of both health expert and layperson sources did not enhance causal attributions more than using a single expert source. Political ideology and racial/ethnic backgrounds were found to have a greater influence on support for pro-SDOH policies than media frames.
Recommended Citation
Islam, Md Khadimul, "Communicating Social Determinants Of Health: Causal Attribution And Sourcing In Health News And Its Effect" (2024). Wayne State University Dissertations. 4136.
https://digitalcommons.wayne.edu/oa_dissertations/4136
