Factors associated with dementia attitudes in an adolescent cohort: structural equation modelling

Abstract

Dementia-related stigma is a key barrier to people living well with dementia, leading to social isolation and poor well-being. Adolescents represent an under-researched group that will become future carers and healthcare workers for the estimated 83.2 million people who will be living with dementia by 2030. Understanding the factors involved in dementia attitude formation in adolescents is useful for the development of evidence-based anti-stigma initiatives. This study aims to identify predictors of dementia attitudes in adolescents. This is a cross-sectional study using secondary data analysis. 470 participants aged 12–15 years old from secondary schools in the Southeast of England, United Kingdom completed validated questionnaires relating to dementia attitudes (KIDS and Brief A-ADS) as well as demographic information. Multiple regressions were employed as well as a path analysis via a structural equation model to test for direct and mediatory effects. Multiple regression models revealed that being female, having higher levels of contact with dementia, and higher levels of empathy are positively associated with dementia attitudes in adolescents (p<0.05). Within the accepted structural equation model, empathy was a key mediator between contact and dementia attitudes. This study highlights the pivotal role that contact with dementia can have in influencing dementia attitudes in adolescents with empathy serving as a mediator between contact and dementia attitudes. Interventions that use contact should consider how to stimulate empathetic responses to ultimately shape dementia attitudes.

Keywords:

• SEM
• secondary analysis
• stigma
• students

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).

Additional information

Funding

The work was supported by the Alzheimer’s Society Dr Farina and his independent research is supported by the National Institute for Health Research Applied Research Collaboration South West Peninsula. The views expressed in this publication are those of the author(s) and not necessarily those of the National Institute for Health Research or the Department of Health and Social Care..

Notes on contributors

Esra Hassan

Esra Hassan is a PhD student at Brighton and Sussex Medical School with her research on the determinants of dementia attitudes in young people. With an MSc in Clinical Neuroscience, Esra’s research background spans across memory and neuropsychology, molecular cancer biology, and neuroimaging techniques. Esra has worked closely with schools and young people in recent years through outreach and public engagement work on brain health and dementia and developing her expertise in delivering tailored interventions to young people.

Ben Hicks

Dr Ben Hicks is a Research Fellow and the Co-ordinator of the ESRC/NIHR funded DETERMIND research programme. This is a 5-year longitudinal study, led by BSMS, that seeks to examine and address the inequalities and inequities in the post-diagnostic care pathway for newly diagnosed people with dementia and their care partners. Dr Hicks research concerns supporting quality of life and social inclusion in people with dementia by exploring their differing lived experiences of the condition and addressing the inequalities that may arise in the dementia care pathway.

Naji Tabet

Professor Naji Tabet, Professor in Dementia and Old Age Psychiatry, is the Director of the Centre for Dementia Studies (CDS). Prof Tabet also leads the Dementia Theme at the NIHR Applied Research Collaboration (ARC) KSS. Prof Tabet is also the Dementia Speciality Co-Lead for NIHR Clinical Research Network (CRN) KSS. Prof Tabet has also been the Principal and UK Chief Investigator on over 35 Phase II-IV therapeutic and diagnostic clinical trials in dementia.

Nicolas Farina

Dr Nicolas Farina is an associate Professor at the University of Plymouth. Dr Farina has a PhD in psychology from the University of Sussex, in which he explored the effects of physical activity on the executive decline of people with dementia. Dr Farina has a wide range of research interest areas that seek to improve the lives of people with dementia and their carers. Dr Farina whilst at the Brighton and Sussex Medical School as a senior research fellow, developed an expertise in dementia-related stigma, working both within the UK and internationally and co-ordinating two work packages on the STRiDE project.