Media representations of bipolar disorder through the case of Suzy Favor Hamilton
Publication Date
1-1-2020
Document Type
Article
Publication Title
Women in Sport and Physical Activity Journal
Volume
28
Issue
2
DOI
10.1123/wspaj.2019-0006
First Page
131
Last Page
139
Abstract
Individuals suffering from mental illness face challenges that are related to stigma and lack of education that are often reinforced by the media. Specifically, the elite athletic culture is not conducive for athletes who suffer from mental illness because there is at times a belief that mental illnesses are less prevalent in elite sport. Even though incidence of mental illness in elite athletes has gained more prominence in the popular media, there is still a lack of research in this area. Specifically, there is limited research regarding media representations of athletes who suffer from mental illness. To address this gap in the literature, an ethnographic content analysis (ECA) was done to examine Suzy Favor Hamilton’s open discussion of bipolar disorder surrounding the release of her new memoir, Fast Girl: A Life Spent Running From Madness. ECA yielded one overarching theme with three supporting sub-themes. Results indicated that even though Favor Hamilton’s book worked to spread awareness, the media attention surrounding the book release represented omission of mental illness in the environment of athletics. Overall, sports culture provides an environment that is not often willing to accept that mental illnesses exist in athletes.
Keywords
Distance running, Female athletes, Media analysis, Mental health
Department
Kinesiology
Recommended Citation
Rachel Vaccaro and Ted M. Butryn. "Media representations of bipolar disorder through the case of Suzy Favor Hamilton" Women in Sport and Physical Activity Journal (2020): 131-139. https://doi.org/10.1123/wspaj.2019-0006
