Beyond Dichotomous Framing: The Effects of Multidimensional Causal Framing of Depression on Social Acceptance of Affected Individuals

As public awareness of depression has grown, research has increasingly examined how the media attribute the causes of depression through framing. However, prior studies have continued to classify depression frames dichotomously, typically focusing on a single dimension. To address this limitation, the present study proposes a multidimensional typology of depression framing based on attribution theory. Four causal frames (biogenetic, lifestyle, social determinants, and catastrophes) were reclassified within three dimensions: locus, stability, and controllability. A single-factor online experiment with U.S. adults tested the effects of each frame on attributional perceptions. The findings generally supported the proposed typology, showing that each frame elicited a distinct attributional pattern. An exploratory analysis further revealed that multiple attributional dimensions can jointly predict social acceptance, underscoring the need to view depression framing as a multidimensional process. These results offer conceptual insights into the complex influences of attributional framing on intended outcomes.