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Fear of memory decline predicts lower quality of life and increased memory failures in older adults: Preliminary findings from a novel fear‐avoidance of memory decline scale
Author(s) -
Farina Francesca R,
Bennett Marc P,
Griffith James W,
Lenaert Bert
Publication year - 2020
Publication title -
alzheimer's and dementia
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 6.713
H-Index - 118
eISSN - 1552-5279
pISSN - 1552-5260
DOI - 10.1002/alz.047271
Subject(s) - psychology , anxiety , dementia , quality of life (healthcare) , clinical psychology , wechsler memory scale , cognition , wechsler adult intelligence scale , psychiatry , medicine , disease , pathology , psychotherapist
Background Evidence concerning the impact of dementia‐related fear on health‐related outcomes is limited. Our aim was to determine the relationship between fear of dementia, quality of life and subjective memory in older adults using a novel scale to measure fear of memory decline (FAM scale). Method Sixty‐seven older adults (59‐81 years) completed a 23‐item self‐report scale designed to capture experiential, cognitive and behavioral components of fear of memory decline. Memory performance was assessed using the Wechsler Memory Scale (WMS‐IV) and the Memory Failures Scale (MFS). General anxiety was assessed using the Depression, Anxiety and Stress Scales (DASS) and the Geriatric Anxiety Inventory (GAI). Quality of life was assessed using the Older Person’s Quality of Life scale (OPQOL‐35). Result The FAM scale demonstrated strong internal consistency (α=.82) and concurrent validity (r=.47 with GAI scores). Three latent factors were observed, which were: (1) fear‐avoidance, (2) problematic beliefs and (3) resilience. After adjusting for age, education, objective memory performance and general anxiety, higher fear‐avoidance predicted lower quality of life ( p =.021) and increased memory failures ( p =.022). Conclusion Increased fear of memory decline predicts lower quality of life and subjective memory failures in healthy older adults. Based on these findings, we propose a preliminary fear‐avoidance model that explains the development and maintenance of dementia‐related functional disability in terms of psychological processes.