Attitudes towards dementia: the role of awareness and individual differences
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- Title
- Attitudes towards dementia: the role of awareness and individual differences
- Creator
- Cassandra Noira Ngo
- Supervisor
- Dr Rosamond Watling.
- Date
- 2016
- Abstract
- Introduction: Stigma associated with dementia is well known and has detrimental effects on early diagnosis and persons well-being (Dowds, McParland, Devine & Gray, 2010). Personality psychology has suggested that differences in prejudice are due to different personality traits, however there is a lack of research explaining how these differences influences stigmatising attitudes towards people with dementia. Further, the contact hypothesis has suggested that contact with the stigmatised group can lead to changes in attitudes (Allport, 1954; Corrigan & Penn, 1999). Aim: To investigate personality traits, knowledge of dementia and stigmatising attitudes towards dementia among three independent groups: individuals with no experience with dementia, with professional experience or with personal experience. Design: Of the 97 original participants, data for 67 (Nfemale= 51, Nmale=16) participants was included in the final analysis. The age of participants ranged from 18 to 83, (M=37.16, SD=16.51). The sample was predominantly white and residing in the UK. Method: The present study utilised a mixed-study design, non-experimental and cross-sectional. Four dependent variables were evaluated: attitudes towards dementia scale, knowledge of dementia scale, NEO-FFI and a qualitative question Do you think people with dementia are discriminated against- If so, please explain why. The independent variable was familiarity with dementia with three levels: no experience, professional experience and personal experience. Results: A MANOVA analysis indicated no statistically significant difference across the three groups. Regression analysis indicated that the big five personality traits did not significantly predict attitudes towards dementia. Conclusion: There is a consequent need to understand and appreciate the nature of stigma in dementia, its effects and to potentially develop interventions to guide policy development, practice and future research.
- Subject
- Psychology
- Extent
- 91 pages : coloured illustrations
- Format
- Publisher
- Regent's University London
- degree
- MSc Psychology
- Language
- English
- Date Issued
- 2016
- Type
- Thesis & Dissertation
- Rights Holder
- Regent's University London & Cassandra Noira Ngo
- Item sets
- Theses or Dissertation