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Media constructions of sleep and sleep disorders: A study of UK national newspapers

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  • Seale, Clive
  • Boden, Sharon
  • Williams, Simon
  • Lowe, Pam
  • Steinberg, Deborah

Abstract

Medicalisation, healthicisation and 'personal' strategies have been identified as the main factors contributing to the socially mediated experience of sleep and sleep disorders in modern societies. Medicalisation and healthicisation are publicly available discourses. But the degree to which apparently 'personal' strategies for managing sleep are presented in popular media has been underestimated. This study of the coverage of 5 UK newspapers shows that both medicalised and healthicised discourses are concentrated in the 'serious' press. The tabloid press is more likely to constitute sleep as a private realm and tabloid readers are therefore relatively less exposed to officially sanctioned forms of knowledge about sleep. Analysis of Daily Mail coverage shows, though, that women's 'personal' strategies for managing sleep are far from being private solutions. The Mail presents this topic as a component of its social construction of a 'Middle England' lifestyle, giving these apparently 'personal' solutions a political resonance.

Suggested Citation

  • Seale, Clive & Boden, Sharon & Williams, Simon & Lowe, Pam & Steinberg, Deborah, 2007. "Media constructions of sleep and sleep disorders: A study of UK national newspapers," Social Science & Medicine, Elsevier, vol. 65(3), pages 418-430, August.
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:socmed:v:65:y:2007:i:3:p:418-430
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Seale, Clive & Ziebland, Sue & Charteris-Black, Jonathan, 2006. "Gender, cancer experience and internet use: A comparative keyword analysis of interviews and online cancer support groups," Social Science & Medicine, Elsevier, vol. 62(10), pages 2577-2590, May.
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    Cited by:

    1. Gabe, Jonathan & Williams, Simon J. & Coveney, Catherine M., 2017. "Prescription hypnotics in the news: A study of UK audiences," Social Science & Medicine, Elsevier, vol. 174(C), pages 43-52.
    2. Brian P. Jenssen & Nicola J. Gray & Kevin Harvey & Ralph J. DiClemente & Jonathan D. Klein, 2014. "Language and Love," SAGE Open, , vol. 4(1), pages 21582440145, February.
    3. Barker, Kristin K., 2014. "Mindfulness meditation: Do-it-yourself medicalization of every moment," Social Science & Medicine, Elsevier, vol. 106(C), pages 168-176.
    4. Lawrence, Jody & Kearns, Robin A. & Park, Julie & Bryder, Linda & Worth, Heather, 2008. "Discourses of disease: Representations of tuberculosis within New Zealand newspapers 2002-2004," Social Science & Medicine, Elsevier, vol. 66(3), pages 727-739, February.
    5. Coveney, Catherine M. & Nerlich, Brigitte & Martin, Paul, 2009. "Modafinil in the media: Metaphors, medicalisation and the body," Social Science & Medicine, Elsevier, vol. 68(3), pages 487-495, February.
    6. Venn, Susan & Meadows, Robert & Arber, Sara, 2013. "Gender differences in approaches to self-management of poor sleep in later life," Social Science & Medicine, Elsevier, vol. 79(C), pages 117-123.
    7. Williams, Simon J. & Coveney, Catherine M. & Gabe, Jonathan, 2013. "Medicalisation or customisation? Sleep, enterprise and enhancement in the 24/7 society," Social Science & Medicine, Elsevier, vol. 79(C), pages 40-47.
    8. Sara Arber & Jenny Hislop & Simon Williams, 2007. "Editors’ Introduction: Gender, Sleep and the Life Course," Sociological Research Online, , vol. 12(5), pages 85-91, September.

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