Factors associated with dementia attitudes in an adolescent cohort: Structural Equation Modelling

Area of Science:

• Gerontology
• Adolescent Psychology
• Public Health

Background:

• Dementia-related stigma negatively impacts well-being and social integration.
• Adolescents are a crucial demographic, forming future caregiver and healthcare worker populations.
• Understanding adolescent dementia attitudes is vital for developing effective anti-stigma interventions.

Purpose of the Study:

• To identify key predictors of dementia attitudes among adolescents.
• To explore the relationship between contact with dementia and adolescent attitudes.
• To investigate the mediating role of empathy in this relationship.

Main Methods:

• Cross-sectional study utilizing secondary data analysis.
• 470 adolescents (aged 12-15) from Southeast England completed validated questionnaires.
• Multiple regression and structural equation modeling (SEM) were used to analyze data.

Main Results:

• Female gender, increased contact with dementia, and higher empathy were positively associated with favorable dementia attitudes (p<0.05).
• SEM analysis confirmed empathy as a significant mediator between contact and dementia attitudes.
• These findings highlight the interconnectedness of contact, empathy, and attitudes.

Conclusions:

• Contact with dementia significantly influences adolescent attitudes, with empathy playing a crucial mediating role.
• Interventions aimed at improving dementia attitudes should focus on fostering empathetic responses alongside increasing contact.
• Early intervention in adolescence can help mitigate future dementia-related stigma.