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

Abstract

AbstractBackgroundDementia related stigma is a key barrier to people living well with dementia. The global action plan on the public health response to dementia outlines the need to tackle the stigma towards dementia among the general population (WHO, 2017). Adolescents represent an under researched group among the general population but may already have experience of dementia and will become future carers or healthcare workers. Adolescents are ideal targets for anti‐stigma initiatives since the adolescence period has a key role in attitude formation. Understanding the factors involved in dementia attitude formation is useful when developing anti‐stigma initiatives. This study aims to identify predictors of dementia attitudes in adolescents.MethodThis 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. A path analysis via a structural equation model was used to test for direct and mediatory effects between dementia attitudes, contact, career interest, empathy and sex.ResultThe overall fit of the model was very good, χ2(16) = 16.913, p = .15, CFI = .99, GFI = .99, AGFI = .97, TLI = .98, RMSEA = .03, Pclose = .82. There was a significant direct effect observed between the following paths; sex to dementia attitudes (p = .001), attitudes to willingness to work with people with dementia, (p < 0.001), empathy to dementia attitudes (p = .01), contact to empathy (p = .01), and empathy to contact (p < 0.001). Within the final structural equation model, empathy was a key mediator between contact and dementia attitudes.ConclusionThis study highlights the pivotal role that contact with dementia can have in influencing dementia attitudes in adolescents with empathy a key mediator between contact and dementia attitudes. The translational significance of this work is that it provides organizations with the knowledge needed to create effective policy and interventions. Interventions that use contact should consider stimulating empathetic responses to shape dementia attitudes.