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P2‐652: PSYCHOLOGICAL DISTANCE BETWEEN PARENTS WITH YOUNG‐ONSET DEMENTIA AND THEIR CHILDREN
Author(s) -
Ozawa Yoshiko
Publication year - 2018
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 - 10.1016/j.jalz.2018.06.1348
Subject(s) - dementia , psychology , active listening , psychiatry , clinical psychology , medicine , disease , psychotherapist , pathology
Background:Children who have a parent with early-onset dementia face various problems, which is an issue of growing concern in Japan. The goal of this researchwas to examine changes in psychological distance between parents with early onset dementia and their children. Methods:A questionnaire survey was conducted with five children who had at least one parent diagnosed with early-onset dementia. Changes in psychological distance between the children and their parents were measured by asking the participants to describe episodes from the onset of dementia to the present and to describe the influence of these episodes on their relationship. Analytical Method: Simple tabulation was done and descriptions were summarized according to the original collected data. The Ethical Committee at the authors’ university approved the study, and participants provided informed consent. Results: Participants were 2 men and 3 women, with an average age of 35.6 years. Prior to the diagnosis, the psychological distance between parents with early onset dementia and their children was low; however, the psychological distance differed greatly between the periods before and after the diagnosis. Changes in parental behavior, behavioral and psychological symptoms of dementia, and difficulty accepting the diagnosis likely influenced these changes in psychological distance. However, the increase in psychological distance started gradually half a year after the diagnosis. Conclusions:I believe that I was able to understand the situation of my parents, who have dementia, by acquiring knowledge and listening to others’ experiences.