Predictors of Fear of Dementia Among Adults

Abstract

Introduction: Previous work has examined fear of dementia among younger adults;8 however, less is known about such associations across age. Thus, the current study expanded on such work by assessing objective knowledge, personal experiences, and allophilia as predictors of subjective fear of developing dementia. Methods: Data from 300 adults (Mean age = 39.7) who completed measures of objective knowledge, personal experiences with persons with dementia, allophilia attitudes towards persons with dementia, and dementia fear. We examined a path model and tested age as a multigroup factor. Results: The model fit the data well, , χ2 (DF = 1) = 0.45, p = .50; AGFI = .99; RMSEA = .00. Post hoc multigroup analyses with age revealed different processes contributing to dementia fear for those younger than and older than age 40 years. Conclusions: Our results speak to the need to examine different predictors of dementia fear for different age groups. Additional investigations of moderators of dementia fear are needed in order to develop interventions to support potential caregivers across the life span.