Thematic and Episodic Framing of Depression: How Chinese and American Newspapers Framed a Major Public Health Threat

Given the health threat of depression in China and the US, as well as the importance of media framing for public understanding of the issue, this paper comparatively analyzed how Chinese and American newspapers thematically and episodically framed depression from 2000 to 2012. Grounded in the theoretical framework of frame building, we also attempted to shed light on how cultural values and organizational constraints influenced the ways in which media framed depression. Results showed that Chinese newspapers framed depression more thematically than American newspapers. American newspapers of national influence used more thematic framing than newspapers of regional/local influence. Despite an overall tendency of thematic framing, Chinese newspaper framing of depression became increasingly episodic over time. Implications for framing research and mental health communication are discussed.