Media portrayals and health inequalities: a case study of characterizations of Gene x Environment interactions.
OBJECTIVE
This article examines how genetic and environmental interactions associated with health inequalities are constructed and framed in the presentation of scientific research.


METHODS
It uses the example of a major article about depression in a longitudinal study of young adults that appeared in Science in 2003.


RESULTS
This portrayal of findings related to health inequalities uses a genetic lens that privileges genetic influences and diminishes environmental ones.


CONCLUSIONS
The emphasis on the genetic side of Gene x Environment interactions can serve to deflect attention away from the important impact of social inequalities on health.
Horwitz
Allan V
AV
Institute for Health, Health Care Policy, and Aging Research and Department of Sociology, Rutgers University, New Brunswick, NJ, USA. avhorw@rci.rutgers.edu
D000328:Adult; D003866:Depressive Disorder / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000235:genetics; D004198:Disease Susceptibility; D004777:Environment; D020022:Genetic Predisposition to Disease; D006801:Humans; D033181:Information Dissemination; D008402:Mass Media; D009520:New Zealand / Q000453:epidemiology; D011110:Polymorphism, Genetic; D050486:Serotonin Plasma Membrane Transport Proteins / Q000235:genetics; D012923:Social Class
D050486:Serotonin Plasma Membrane Transport Proteins