Media Studies of Regulatory Value of Healthy Lifestyle in English Media: A Corpus-Based Approach

Abstract

This study presents the findings of a corpus analysis regarding the media studies of the concept of a healthy lifestyle as a paramount regulatory value in contemporary society. The empirical foundation of the research is based on the British segment of the News on Web (NOW) corpus. Semantic categorization and quantification of collocations reveal that in the media narratives of British outlets, the value of a healthy lifestyle is increasingly framed within psychological and mental dimensions, reflecting shifting societal perceptions of its content. An interpretative analysis of contexts capturing behavioral types indicates that excesses in healthy lifestyle practices are met with disapproval. Concerns and anxieties are linked to mental health domains and psychologically healthy relationships. A critical stance is observed towards the most manipulable area of healthy eating. It has been established that media narratives politicize healthy lifestyle practices, associating the challenges of their implementation with economic issues as well as the phenomenon of psychological fatigue. Thematic modeling of discursive practices demonstrates the predominance of mental health topics in quality press, alongside rational discursive strategies grounded in scientific research findings. In popular media, emphasis is placed on appearance as a result of a healthy lifestyle, with extensive use of emotional appeal strategies referencing well-known personalities as role models.