The mediating role of attitudes towards dementia on the relationship between dementia knowledge and behaviors towards persons with dementia: A cross-sectional study

Abstract

Background The rising prevalence of dementia is a global health issue due to the worldwide increase in the number of adults over the age of 65 years. Persons living with dementia often experience discrimination in their life; thus, building a dementia-friendly community is important for reducing biases towards this population. The relationship between dementia knowledge, attitudes, and behaviors towards persons with dementia are significant factors in creating a dementia-friendly community. However, limited research has prevented a better understanding of the relationships among these variables. This study aimed to examine the mediating effect of attitudes towards dementia on the relationship between dementia knowledge and behaviors towards persons with dementia. Methods This was a cross-sectional survey with participants recruited from Wanhua District, Taipei City using a non-probability sampling method. Data were collected regarding dementia knowledge, attitudes, and behaviors using the Alzheimer’s Disease Knowledge Scale (ADKS), Approaches to Dementia Questionnaire (ADQ), and two researcher-developed self-administered survey questions on unfriendly behaviors towards persons with dementia, respectively. The correlation between dementia knowledge, attitudes, and unfriendly behaviors towards persons with dementia was determined with Pearson’s correlation coefficient. Multiple linear regressions investigated predictors of unfriendly behaviors towards persons with dementia. A simple mediation model was used to examine the mediation effect of attitudes on the relationship between dementia knowledge and unfriendly behaviors towards persons with dementia. Results A total of 313 participants were surveyed and the mean age of the respondents was 53.24 years (SD = 17.20; range = 20 to 90 years). Scores for dementia knowledge, attitudes and unfriendly behaviors towards persons with dementia were significantly correlated. Higher scores for knowledge (β=-0.16, p < 0.01) and attitudes towards dementia (β=-0.32, p < 0.001) were significantly associated with lower scores for unfriendly behaviors towards persons with dementia. A significant mediating effect of attitudes towards dementia was observed. Conclusions Attitudes towards dementia was a significant mediator in the relationship between dementia knowledge and unfriendly behaviors towards persons with dementia. Our findings suggest that increasing public awareness and knowledge about dementia could help the general population develop better attitudes towards dementia, which could subsequently help improve behaviors towards persons with dementia.