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Perceived threat of Alzheimer's disease and related dementias in Chinese older adults: The role of knowledge and perceived stigma
Author(s) -
Gao Ms Xiang,
Gao Mr Xiang,
Guo Lin,
Sun Fei,
Zhang Anao
Publication year - 2020
Publication title -
international journal of geriatric psychiatry
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.28
H-Index - 129
eISSN - 1099-1166
pISSN - 0885-6230
DOI - 10.1002/gps.5240
Subject(s) - stigma (botany) , gerontology , dementia , worry , mainland china , psychology , health literacy , disease , population , social stigma , medicine , china , psychiatry , health care , environmental health , anxiety , family medicine , pathology , human immunodeficiency virus (hiv) , political science , law , economics , economic growth
Objectives This study focused on perceived threat of Alzheimer's disease and related dementias (ADRD) in Chinese older adults and investigated its associations with their perceived stigma and knowledge of ADRD. Methods We examined Chinese older adults' perceived threat of ADRD and its associations with perceived stigma, knowledge of ADRD, family variables and health variables. Data for this cross‐sectional study were collected by student interviewers in 2016. The participants (N = 754) were recruited from two urban communities in mainland China and their ages ranged from 60 to 89 ( M = 69.54, SD = 7.35). Results Hierarchical regression analyses indicated that those who are younger, have more depressive symptoms and lower levels of family cohesion are more likely to worry about ADRD. More ADRD knowledge and higher levels of perceived stigma are significantly associated with perceived threat of ADRD. Community site moderated the relationship between stigma and perceived threat of ADRD. Conclusions Intervention or service programs need to promote ADRD knowledge and awareness in a culturally sensitive way as well as address stigma and fear toward ADRD in the older population. Future studies are needed to incorporate more cultural and environmental factors to fully understand Chinese older adults' attitudes toward and literacy of ADRD.