Stigma Beliefs and Attitudes Against Dementia and Help-Seeking Intentions in Hypothetical Early Signs of Dementia: An Observational Cross-Sectional Study of Middle-Aged and Older Adults in Japan

IF 2.8 3区医学 Q2 GERIATRICS & GERONTOLOGY

International Journal of Geriatric Psychiatry Pub Date : 2025-08-11 DOI:10.1002/gps.70141

Taiji Noguchi, Erhua Shang, Takahiro Hayashi

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引用次数: 0

Abstract

Objectives

People's stigma toward dementia may hinder support and care in early dementia. We explored the association of stigma beliefs and attitudes toward dementia with help-seeking intentions among middle-aged and older adults in hypothetical early signs of dementia.

Methods

This cross-sectional study involved individuals aged 40 years and above without dementia, recruited from public facility visitors in Aichi, Japan, between July and August 2024. Dementia stigma was assessed using a short form of the Phillipson Dementia Stigma Assessment, comprising four domains: personal avoidance (avoiding contact and interaction with people with dementia), fear of labeling (fear and anxiety regarding dementia diagnosis), person-centeredness (respect and positive attitudes toward people with dementia), and fear of discrimination (fear of ostracism because of dementia). The participants were asked about their help-seeking intentions from family members, other relatives, healthcare professionals, public facilities, and the phone helpline during the hypothetical early signs of dementia.

Results

Data from 380 individuals were analyzed (mean age 75.0 years; 76.1% women), of whom 90.4% had help-seeking intentions from a partner, 85.9% from children, and 85.8% from healthcare professionals. Multivariable regression analysis revealed that higher dementia stigma was associated with a lower likelihood of help-seeking intentions from a partner, children, and healthcare professionals. Of the subdomains, fear of discrimination was negatively related to help-seeking intentions.

Conclusions

This study indicated that people's stigma beliefs and attitudes may pose barriers to help-seeking in the early stage of dementia. Our findings highlight the need to strengthen support for individuals with early dementia, while reducing people's fear of discrimination and prejudice against dementia in the long term.

查看原文本刊更多论文

在假设的痴呆早期症状中，对痴呆的污名化信念、态度和寻求帮助的意向：一项对日本中老年人的观察性横断面研究

人们对痴呆症的耻辱感可能会阻碍早期痴呆症的支持和护理。我们探讨了在假设的老年痴呆症早期症状中，对痴呆症的耻辱感、信念和态度与寻求帮助的意图之间的联系。方法本横断面研究纳入了2024年7月至8月期间从日本爱知市公共设施访客中招募的40岁及以上无痴呆的个体。痴呆症耻辱感的评估采用Phillipson痴呆症耻辱感评估的简短形式，包括四个领域：个人回避（避免与痴呆症患者接触和互动），对标签的恐惧（对痴呆症诊断的恐惧和焦虑），以人为中心（对痴呆症患者的尊重和积极态度），以及对歧视的恐惧（害怕因痴呆症而被排斥）。参与者被问及他们的家庭成员、其他亲属、医疗保健专业人员、公共设施和电话求助热线在假设的早期痴呆症症状期间寻求帮助的意图。结果分析了380例个体资料(平均年龄75.0岁；76.1%的女性)，其中90.4%的人有伴侣的求助意向，85.9%的人有孩子的求助意向，85.8%的人有医疗保健专业人员的求助意向。多变量回归分析显示，较高的痴呆症耻辱感与伴侣、儿童和医疗保健专业人员寻求帮助的可能性较低有关。在子域中，对歧视的恐惧与求助意图呈负相关。结论在痴呆早期，人们的耻辱感、信念和态度可能成为寻求帮助的障碍。我们的研究结果强调需要加强对早期痴呆症患者的支持，同时减少人们对长期歧视和偏见痴呆症的恐惧。

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来源期刊

International Journal of Geriatric Psychiatry 医学-精神病学

CiteScore

6.10

自引率

2.50%

发文量

168

审稿时长

4-8 weeks

期刊介绍： The rapidly increasing world population of aged people has led to a growing need to focus attention on the problems of mental disorder in late life. The aim of the Journal is to communicate the results of original research in the causes, treatment and care of all forms of mental disorder which affect the elderly. The Journal is of interest to psychiatrists, psychologists, social scientists, nurses and others engaged in therapeutic professions, together with general neurobiological researchers. The Journal provides an international perspective on the important issue of geriatric psychiatry, and contributions are published from countries throughout the world. Topics covered include epidemiology of mental disorders in old age, clinical aetiological research, post-mortem pathological and neurochemical studies, treatment trials and evaluation of geriatric psychiatry services.