Gender Differences in Dementia Knowledge among Slovenian Adolescents

Abstract

Objectives: Current evidence suggests that attitudes towards people with dementia may develop at a young age. Therefore, it is important that adolescents of both sexes are already informed about dementia as much as possible. Aim: In the group of adolescents to determine whether exist gender differences in knowledge of dementia and desired resources for further education. Methods: 1128 students (aged 14 -19) from non-health related secondary schools in Slovenia completed the dementia-related knowledge survey. Results: Of 20 claims of dementia, participants were on average able to answer 71.5% correctly (M = 14.30; SD = 2.56). Boys showed poorer knowledge regarding ten claims of dementia compared to the girls (p0.05). Conclusions: Considering the dementia knowledge differences between male and female adolescents evident in this study, education may be more effective by being gender-specific.