Who Is (Held) Responsible for Diabetes and Depression?

A Qualitative Interview Study Exploring Attributions and Reactions to Social Network Responsibility Frames

Abstract

Responsibility frames and attributions of responsibility are closely linked to health-related stigma and social support intentions, which present relevant influencing factors for health outcomes. According to social-ecological models, health responsibility can potentially be attributed to at least three levels: 1) the individual, 2) the social network, and 3) society. So far, little is known about responsibility attributions to the social network. This qualitative interview study explores how N = 22 persons with and without lived experience with diabetes and depression react to a media frame attributing responsibility to the social network level, aiming to understand how framing and responsibility attributions are linked to health-related stigma and endorsement of social support. Results demonstrate that specifically type 2 diabetes is linked to individually controllable attributions and behavioural stigma, and individuals living with type 2 diabetes are expected to manage their condition without considerable social support. In contrast, depression is seen as less controllable, less manageable, and dependent on social and professional support. For both diabetes and depression, frames attributing responsibility to the social network may stimulate social support but also carry certain risks. These results offer implications for health news reporting, and perspectives for further research on health-related responsibility framing.