Table 3 Summary of study themes
From: The H1N1 pandemic: media frames, stigmatization and coping
Themes | Examples | |
|---|---|---|
Primary appraisals | ||
Stressful | What are we in for? | “I don’t know what I would do if anyone in my family got sick” |
“Even the young and normally healthy people are getting sick” | ||
Secondary appraisals | ||
Positive (“meet the challenge”) | Plans and Precautions | “Taking precautions against viruses… is just part of my routine” |
Neutral | It’s not so bad | “I never get the flu, so I really wasn’t concerned” |
Negative (“threatening”) | Nobody Knows” | “I don’t think anyone has a full understanding of this flu” |
It’s In The Air | “H1N1 is in the air. If you’re exposed to it, you will get it” | |
Isolation | “We’re isolated in my neighborhood/We don’t know, or help, each other” | |
Coping strategies | ||
No Stereotype Discussed | ||
Positive-engaged | Too Much News, Too Many Germs | “Now, I’m more alert as to how you can catch germs” |
Negative-Passive | Who Can I Trust? | “I think the government is just tryin’ to get people worked up” |
Stereotype Discussed | ||
Positive-engaged | Protection, not Isolation | “Take precautions, but live your life… and care for people in need” |
Raising Consciousness | “Widespread fear has economic consequences - especially for Latinos” | |
Negative-Passive | Subtle Stigma | “Is our lifestyle ’cleaner’ than the lifestyle in Mexico?” |
We’ve Heard This Story Before | “Americans are not very sensitive to minorities during disease outbreaks” |