Correlates of dementia attitudes in a sample of middle‐aged Australian adults

Abstract

This study is the first to examine correlates of attitudes towards dementia in an Australian sample. Future research could improve understanding of distinct factors associated with dementia and lead to strategies to reduce stigmatised views of people with dementia in the community.

Dementia attitudes and help-seeking intentions: an investigation of responses to two scenarios of an experience of the early signs of dementia

“…Stigma and attitudes relating to dementia were examined using a 31-item questionnaire (Phillipson et al, 2012). This included 12 items from the Perceptions Regarding Investigational Screening for Memory in Primary Care (PRISM-PC) -Dementia Screening Subscale (Boustani et al, 2008) which assesses hypothetical responses to a diagnosis of dementia (e.g., 'I would feel humiliated').…”

“…To address this gap, the present study examined whether the stigma-related attitudes associated with social exclusion (including labelling, a desire for personal avoidance and discriminatory attitudes) (Phillipson, Magee, Jones, & Skladzien, 2012), were associated with help-seeking intentions in response to two 'hypothetical' experiences of the early signs and symptoms of dementia in middle aged adults. In addition, we also examined the relationship between more person-centred, positive attitudes towards people with dementia.…”

Involvement of people with dementia in raising awareness and changing attitudes in a dementia friendly community pilot project

“…This was based on their desire for local people to understand their lives and share their awareness -which has also been found in other research (von Kutzlebena, Schmida, Haleka, Hollea, & Bartholomeyczika, 2012). The decision to support the active involvement of local people with dementia in media and educational events was also based on a previous study of dementia stigma in Australia which found that having contact with a person with dementia was associated with lower levels of personal avoidance of the condition (Phillipson, Magee, Jones, & Skladzien, 2014). Education and awareness raising activities over an 18-month period included information and education sessions delivered to over 1000 community members.…”

Person-centered attitudes mediate the association between dementia knowledge and help-giving intentions in Singapore

“…Symptom knowledge was assessed as the number of correctly identified symptoms from a list of eight real and two dummy symptoms (M = 4.39, SD = 2.29) (NatCen Social Research, 2015). Stigma attitudes were assessed by three items rated from strongly agree (5) to strongly disagree (1): (a) I would avoid contact with someone if I thought they had dementia; (b) if I had just been told I had the first signs of dementia, I would feel ashamed; and (c) people diagnosed with dementia could have done something to avoid their condition (Phillipson et al, 2014). Item scores were summed (M = 7.95, SD = 2.20; α = 0.57).…”

“…Item scores were summed (M = 7.95, SD = 2.20; α = 0.57). Person-centered attitudes was assessed with two statements rated from strongly agree (5) to strongly disagree (1): (a) people with dementia have care and concern for other people, and (b) people with dementia are respected for their wisdom from years of life experience (Phillipson et al, 2014). Item scores were summed (M = 6.85, SD = 1.58; α = 0.58).…”