Psychometric Evaluation of a Worry Scale for Dementia
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Ohio University / OhioLINK
2013
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| Online Access: | http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=ohiou1379067499 |
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ndltd-OhioLink-oai-etd.ohiolink.edu-ohiou13790674992021-08-03T06:19:53Z Psychometric Evaluation of a Worry Scale for Dementia Kinzer, Adrianna J. Clinical Psychology Health Psychology Public Health Neurosciences Dementia Worry Health Anxiety Psychometric evaluation Increased awareness of the signs of dementia can lead to early detection, but also to heightened levels of health anxiety, particularly among older individuals who may have difficulty distinguishing between normal symptoms of aging and pathological symptoms of dementia. Dementia worry results from ruminative anxiety associated with self-reported memory problems among older adults and likely reflects an overestimation of perceived risk for dementia. Individuals with high dementia worry, but who show no evidence of actual cognitive impairment, may still search for signs of dementia in their own behaviors and might be at risk for misdiagnosis.The current study provided further validation data for a recently developed measure of dementia worry. Older adults (N=100) completed a packet of measures including the Dementia Worry Scale; psychometric characteristics of the scale were examined. Factor analysis suggested a revised shorter version of the scale was appropriate, and the revised scale demonstrated strong internal consistency and (interval) test-retest reliability. As expected, higher scores on the scale were related to higher memory complaints, more depressive symptoms, and higher general worry among older adults. Partially consistent with expectations, individuals with genetic dementia experience reported higher worry on average than those with either non-genetic experience or no experience.Contrary to expectations, higher scores were not related to being female. Also contrary to expectations, age did not interact with worry to predict self-reported memory complaints. Supplemental analyses suggested that correlates of the Dementia Worry Scale differed depending on genetic experience with dementia, with the general patterns of correlations generally supportive of the construct validity of the scale. The scale appears to be a sound measure of dementia worry and a useful way to identify the “worried well” who present for evaluation and diagnosis. Future research should examine the properties of the scale in a clinical population 2013 English text Ohio University / OhioLINK http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=ohiou1379067499 http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=ohiou1379067499 unrestricted This thesis or dissertation is protected by copyright: all rights reserved. It may not be copied or redistributed beyond the terms of applicable copyright laws. |
| collection |
NDLTD |
| language |
English |
| sources |
NDLTD |
| topic |
Clinical Psychology Health Psychology Public Health Neurosciences Dementia Worry Health Anxiety Psychometric evaluation |
| spellingShingle |
Clinical Psychology Health Psychology Public Health Neurosciences Dementia Worry Health Anxiety Psychometric evaluation Kinzer, Adrianna J. Psychometric Evaluation of a Worry Scale for Dementia |
| author |
Kinzer, Adrianna J. |
| author_facet |
Kinzer, Adrianna J. |
| author_sort |
Kinzer, Adrianna J. |
| title |
Psychometric Evaluation of a Worry Scale for Dementia |
| title_short |
Psychometric Evaluation of a Worry Scale for Dementia |
| title_full |
Psychometric Evaluation of a Worry Scale for Dementia |
| title_fullStr |
Psychometric Evaluation of a Worry Scale for Dementia |
| title_full_unstemmed |
Psychometric Evaluation of a Worry Scale for Dementia |
| title_sort |
psychometric evaluation of a worry scale for dementia |
| publisher |
Ohio University / OhioLINK |
| publishDate |
2013 |
| url |
http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=ohiou1379067499 |
| work_keys_str_mv |
AT kinzeradriannaj psychometricevaluationofaworryscalefordementia |
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