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COMMUNICATING MENTAL HEALTH DISORDERS: UNDERSTANDING THE STIGMA AND PRIVACY MANAGEMENT OF CELEBRITIES IN GHANA

thesis
posted on 2024-07-11, 13:21 authored by Lyzbeth Safoah KingLyzbeth Safoah King

Like physical health, mental health is equally critical. However, the symptoms of some mental health disorders coupled with how some individuals understand mental health have generated a stigma on mental health disorders. This stigma makes it uncomfortable for people to discuss mental health. Guided by communication privacy management and stigma management communication theories, the study explored how Ghanaian celebrities disclose or not disclose their mental health disorders considering that there is a stigma that is linked to mental health disorders. Twenty individual interviews were conducted with Ghanaian celebrities. Data were analyzed using a phronetic iterative approach (Tracy, 2020). Data revealed a variety of disclosure patterns that I categorized into non-traditional and traditional disclosures. Some emerging CPM patterns include masked and sequential disclosure. Further, Ghanaian celebrities use different strategies like praying to manage the stigma stemming from mental illness. Collectively, these findings extend both communication privacy and stigma management communication theories by revealing new patterns of disclosure as well as strategies for managing the stigma associated with mental illness. More theoretical contributions and practical implications of the findings are discussed in depth.

History

Degree Type

  • Master of Arts

Department

  • Communication

Campus location

  • Fort Wayne

Advisor/Supervisor/Committee Chair

Dr. Mary Kiura

Additional Committee Member 2

Dr. Heloisa Wilkerson

Additional Committee Member 3

Dr. Michelle Kelsey