Giorgia Varallo1, Luca Pingani2,3,4, Alessandro Musetti5, Gian Maria Galeazzi2,4, Fabio Pizza6,7, Gianluca Castelnuovo8,9, Giuseppe Plazzi2,7, Christian Franceschini10. 1. Department of Psychology, Catholic University of Milan, 20123, Milan, Italy. 2. Department of Biomedical, Metabolic, and Neural Sciences, Università degli Studi di Modena e Reggio Emilia, 41125, Modena, Italy. 3. Department of Health Professions, Azienda USL-IRCCS di Reggio Emilia, 42122, Reggio Emilia, Italy. 4. Department of Mental Health, Azienda USL-IRCCS di Reggio Emilia, 42122, Reggio Emilia, Italy. 5. Department of Humanities, Social Sciences and Cultural Industries, University of Parma, 43125, Parma, Italy. 6. Department of Biomedical and Neuromotor Sciences (DIBINEM), University of Bologna, 40126, Bologna, Italy. 7. IRCCS Istituto delle Scienze Neurologiche di Bologna, 40139, Bologna, Italy. 8. Department of Psychology, Catholic University of Milan, Milan, Italy. 9. Psychology Research Laboratory, Istituto Auxologico Italiano IRCCS, Verbania, Italy. 10. Department of Medicine and Surgery, University of Parma, 43121, Parma, Italy.
Abstract
STUDY OBJECTIVES: The media are the primary sources of information about health for the public. The media portrayal of narcolepsy might contribute to the stigmatization of people affected by this condition. This study aimed to describe how narcolepsy is portrayed in newspapers. METHODS: We collected 257 newspaper articles from the digital archive of La Stampa published between 1980 and 2020 that mentioned key search terms. The content was assessed using an ad hoc coding schema developed to evaluate the presence of sensationalistic title, negative language, stigmatizing content, stereotypical description, disclosure of a person diagnosed with narcolepsy, person with narcolepsy described as dangerous, presence of an accurate diagnosis, identifiable symptoms, indications about diagnostic and treatment services. Chi-square analysis was performed to identify changes over time in the type of content. RESULTS: In 10.9% of the articles, there was a sensationalistic title; inappropriate, negative, and outdated language appeared in 10.5% of the articles. Stigmatizing and stereotypical content was reported in 19.5% and 14.8% of the articles, respectively. In 62.3% of the articles, it was disclosed that a person had narcolepsy, and in 5.1% of the articles patients with narcolepsy were described as dangerous. The presence of an accurate diagnosis was referred to in 30.4% of the articles, while 16.7% described identifiable symptoms. Services for diagnosis and treatment were mentioned in 24.1% of the articles. Changes over time in the content of articles are discussed. CONCLUSIONS: Our findings highlight areas for improvement in the media portrayal of narcolepsy and could help guide the development of new targeted anti-stigma campaigns. CITATION: Varallo G, Pingani L, Musetti A, et al. Portrayals of narcolepsy from 1980 to 2020: a descriptive analysis of stigmatizing content in newspaper articles. J Clin Sleep Med. 2022;18(7):1769-1778.
STUDY OBJECTIVES: The media are the primary sources of information about health for the public. The media portrayal of narcolepsy might contribute to the stigmatization of people affected by this condition. This study aimed to describe how narcolepsy is portrayed in newspapers. METHODS: We collected 257 newspaper articles from the digital archive of La Stampa published between 1980 and 2020 that mentioned key search terms. The content was assessed using an ad hoc coding schema developed to evaluate the presence of sensationalistic title, negative language, stigmatizing content, stereotypical description, disclosure of a person diagnosed with narcolepsy, person with narcolepsy described as dangerous, presence of an accurate diagnosis, identifiable symptoms, indications about diagnostic and treatment services. Chi-square analysis was performed to identify changes over time in the type of content. RESULTS: In 10.9% of the articles, there was a sensationalistic title; inappropriate, negative, and outdated language appeared in 10.5% of the articles. Stigmatizing and stereotypical content was reported in 19.5% and 14.8% of the articles, respectively. In 62.3% of the articles, it was disclosed that a person had narcolepsy, and in 5.1% of the articles patients with narcolepsy were described as dangerous. The presence of an accurate diagnosis was referred to in 30.4% of the articles, while 16.7% described identifiable symptoms. Services for diagnosis and treatment were mentioned in 24.1% of the articles. Changes over time in the content of articles are discussed. CONCLUSIONS: Our findings highlight areas for improvement in the media portrayal of narcolepsy and could help guide the development of new targeted anti-stigma campaigns. CITATION: Varallo G, Pingani L, Musetti A, et al. Portrayals of narcolepsy from 1980 to 2020: a descriptive analysis of stigmatizing content in newspaper articles. J Clin Sleep Med. 2022;18(7):1769-1778.
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