UCL HCN Research Seminar Series: Upcoming Talk 12th November, 1-2pm.

Please find the details for our upcoming talk below. Note that this talk will be delivered online, though in person attendance is both welcomed and encouraged!

• Next Event: Tuesday 12^th November, 1-2pm
  Location: IOE – Room C3.14 (Speaker online)

  Zoom Link: https://ucl.zoom.us/j/93281768433?pwd=t930xwrlgVFfQ4y7Fzhsjrb34n82Hb.1

  We welcome Sinéad Jackson, who is a doctoral research student in The Department of Culture, Communication & Media, University College London, UK,.

  ‘Slipping, Falling, and Stumbling Backwards: Metaphors of dependence and recovery in online alcohol support materials.’

  It is estimated that in England alone, there are over 600,000 dependent drinkers, of whom just 18% are seeking support or receiving treatment (Committee of Public Accounts, 2023). Reasons related to self-stigma, shame, and a perceived lack of agency are often cited as the most significant barriers to help-seeking behaviours (Bilberg, 2019). This talk will present a piece of research exploring implications of the metaphors used to talk about alcohol use in online support materials, attempting to isolate the language individuals seeking support may be likely to encounter. Metaphor has been shown to influence how we perceive, respond to, and emotionally appraise experiences of illness; to inform and shape perceptions of agency and control; to reinforce or challenge stigmatising attitudes; and to influence health-related risk assessment and behaviours. However, there is currently little research available on the landscape of figurative language use in alcohol-related health messaging.

  Using a specialised corpus of online texts produced by alcohol support organisations, this talk will consider two questions: How is alcohol use metaphorically framed by professional support services? What positive or negative implications might these framings have for support-seeking individuals? The presented analysis will identify metaphors targeted at four key aspects of alcohol use: (i) lived experience, (ii) coping strategies, (iii) alcohol use disorder, and (iv) treatment options. Particular consideration will be paid to the conceptualisations of affected individuals and dependency supported by the framings, and the kind or degree of agency being attributed to the participants. Finally, the discussion hopes to highlight how linguistic choices may reflect, reinforce, or challenge existing theoretical perspectives, illustrating the role of language in framing perceptions in health information.

 

We look forward to seeing you there!

The UCL Health Communication Network Team

References

Bilberg, R. (2019). Barriers to Treatment for Alcohol Dependence. Journal of Drug and Alcohol Research.

Committee of Public Accounts. (2023). Alcohol treatment services. House of Commons.