About this Research Topic

Background

Health communication is a dynamic, socially embedded process that both reflects and shapes the broader sociocultural contexts in which it occurs. Far from being a neutral transmission of information, health communication plays a key role in constructing societal narratives around health, illness, and well-being. These narratives can implicitly or explicitly portray certain groups as different—whether in terms of health risks, behaviors, vulnerabilities, or embodying certain health outcomes. Classifying certain groups as different or outside of certain social norms through discursive and social mechanisms is referred to as 'Othering.' Othering is not merely a reflection of individual bias but an outcome of embedded power dynamics and often historical legacies. By marking certain populations as the 'other,' health communication can unintentionally reinforce social and structural inequalities. At the same time, health communication holds the potential to challenge social divisions and to reflect on and reimagine the boundaries of health and illness, inclusivity, and exclusion.

This Research Topic seeks to explore the complex relationship between health communication and Othering, acknowledging that health communication can simultaneously reflect, reinforce, and challenge societal discourses around socially embedded health norms. How does Othering manifest in different health communication contexts? What theoretical frameworks and methodological approaches can be employed to examine the complexities of Othering in health communication, and how can these insights inform strategies fostering more inclusive and equitable health narratives?

Exploring Othering in the context of health communication allows for a deeper understanding of how health communication can either contribute to reinforcing social divides or serve as a platform for more equitable health discourses. We invite contributions that critically examine how health communication messages, practices, and policies may (inadvertently) marginalize certain groups while also considering the ways in which these same communicative processes can be leveraged to foster inclusion, equity, and justice. By engaging with the fluid and dynamic nature of health communication, scholars can showcase the risks and opportunities inherent in the field, opening up new possibilities for addressing and dealing with inequality through nuanced, context-sensitive, and decolonial approaches in health communication research and practice.

We encourage contributions from scholars across health communication, communication science, media studies, sociology, psychology, public health, medicine, nursing science, and related fields to address topics such as the discursive construction of 'the other' in health communication, the role of media in amplifying or mitigating Othering, and the (im)material consequences of these processes for marginalized communities. We welcome submissions that provide theoretical, methodological, and empirical insights, as well as reflections on the ethical dimensions of communication strategies in diverse health contexts and among/toward different populations. Submissions may include Original Research, Systematic Review, Methods, Review, Policy and Practice Review, Community Case Study, and Conceptual Analysis articles on the intersection of health communication, Othering, and social (in)justice.

We encourage diverse methodological approaches and especially welcome manuscripts that focus on theoretical and methodological developments with implications for health communication and beyond. Suggested topics include, but are not limited to, the following:

• the theoretical foundations of Othering in health communication
• strategies for inclusive health communication with a focus on cultural competence
• Othering in health communication in different settings
• sources and settings of Othering in health communication
• the impact of Othering in health communication on health outcomes, mental health, and well-being
• the role of digital media, patients, or caregivers in addressing health inequities
• methodological and ethical challenges in the measurement of Othering in health communication
• innovative methods to overcome Othering
• policies, guidelines, and interventions to address Othering in health communication research and practice
• guidelines and best-practice examples.

Information and instructions for authors

Manuscripts should be prepared in accordance with Frontiers author guidelines (please see "Check author guidelines" above) and submitted via this page. For more information about article types, please refer to this page.

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Authors are encouraged to submit a manuscript summary (i.e., an extended abstract) of up to 2,000 words via this page to receive feedback from the Topic Editors, but full manuscripts may also be submitted without submitting a manuscript summary first.

Frontiers follows a continuous publishing model, with manuscripts being published on a rolling basis. Authors wishing to have their manuscript published, if accepted, by the end of 2025, should submit their contribution by no later than the end of April 2025.

Article types and fees

This Research Topic accepts the following article types, unless otherwise specified in the Research Topic description:

• Brief Research Report
• Case Report
• Community Case Study
• Conceptual Analysis
• Editorial
• General Commentary
• Hypothesis and Theory
• Methods
• Mini Review
• ... View all formats

Articles that are accepted for publication by our external editors following rigorous peer review incur a publishing fee charged to Authors, institutions, or funders.

Article types

This Research Topic accepts the following article types, unless otherwise specified in the Research Topic description:

• Brief Research Report
• Case Report
• Community Case Study
• Conceptual Analysis
• Editorial
• General Commentary
• Hypothesis and Theory
• Methods
• Mini Review
• Opinion
• Original Research
• Perspective
• Policy and Practice Reviews
• Policy Brief
• Review
• Study Protocol
• Systematic Review

Keywords: Othering, health communication, intersectionality, intercultural research, health equity, power dynamics, stigma and discrimination, decolonial perspectives, migrant health

Important note: All contributions to this Research Topic must be within the scope of the section and journal to which they are submitted, as defined in their mission statements. Frontiers reserves the right to guide an out-of-scope manuscript to a more suitable section or journal at any stage of peer review.

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