Health promotion concepts and the stress exposed in print media

Abstract

Background: The current concept of Health Promotion includes an interdisciplinary approach from various sectors of society. However, many themes related to health promotion are still restricted to prevention and a biologic approach to disease, as is presumably the case with stress. Objective: This study aims to analyze the concepts of health promotion associated with stress exposed by the print media. Methods: It is a study in which it was carried out the qualitative media analysis of 727 news from printed newspapers, dated from 2015 to 2017. The concepts of Health Promotion related to stress, found in the approaches on the subject in the media were: 1- Early Health Promotion: absence of disease and birth of the term (past); 2 - Health Promotion as primary prevention (present); 3- Expanded Health Promotion (what is expected in the future). Results: The study contributes to stimulating society's leading role in health promotion and brought the novelty of the print media's approach to stress. The study shows that the most recent concepts of health promotion linked to stress are little discussed in the print media. The study suggests, with its originality, a current reflection on stress and the evolution of the meanings of Health Promotion. Conclusion: It was observed that the media still approaches the stress theme in a restricted, biologicist, medicalized, prescriptive way, and focused on commercial interests, reinforcing the need for public policies aimed at Health Promotion comunication.