TY - JOUR
T1 - Profiles in Dementia-Related Anxiety
T2 - A Latent Profile Analysis
AU - Maxfield, Molly
AU - Pituch, Keenan A.
N1 - Funding Information:
This study was not preregistered. De-identified data and study materials are available upon request from the corresponding author.
Publisher Copyright:
© The Author(s) 2022. Published by Oxford University Press on behalf of The Gerontological Society of America. All rights reserved.
PY - 2022/12/1
Y1 - 2022/12/1
N2 - Objectives: Dementia-related anxiety (DRA) is the concern about current or future cognitive decline and potential diagnosis of Alzheimer’s disease or related dementias (ADRD). Existing research suggests that DRA likely develops due to diverse reasons (e.g., family ADRD history, self-perceived risk, and health-related anxiety), and approaches to managing DRA likely differ as well (e.g., future planning). This study aimed to identify profiles in DRA. Method: In a cross-sectional study, a convenience sample of U.S. adults ranging in age from 18 to 82 (N = 492, Mage = 49.25, standard deviation [SDage] = 15.43) completed online assessments of characteristics associated with DRA. Latent profile analysis was used to uncover distinct DRA profiles and promote understanding of individual characteristics associated with varying levels of DRA; multinomial regression assessed if the profiles are further distinguished by covariates. Results: The resulting four-profile model reveals profile differences are largely due to DRA, self-perceived ADRD risk, and preparedness for future care needs; health-related anxiety, age, ADRD exposure, and anticipated ADRD stigma contribute to profile differences as well. Profiles of the youngest and oldest groups reported the lowest and highest levels of preparedness for future care, along with the lowest DRA and self-perceived risk. Several covariates, particularly those assessing general psychological functioning, were also related to profile membership. Discussion: The resulting profiles point to several factors associated with elevated anxiety about ADRD, which do not fully match the risk factors for ADRD.
AB - Objectives: Dementia-related anxiety (DRA) is the concern about current or future cognitive decline and potential diagnosis of Alzheimer’s disease or related dementias (ADRD). Existing research suggests that DRA likely develops due to diverse reasons (e.g., family ADRD history, self-perceived risk, and health-related anxiety), and approaches to managing DRA likely differ as well (e.g., future planning). This study aimed to identify profiles in DRA. Method: In a cross-sectional study, a convenience sample of U.S. adults ranging in age from 18 to 82 (N = 492, Mage = 49.25, standard deviation [SDage] = 15.43) completed online assessments of characteristics associated with DRA. Latent profile analysis was used to uncover distinct DRA profiles and promote understanding of individual characteristics associated with varying levels of DRA; multinomial regression assessed if the profiles are further distinguished by covariates. Results: The resulting four-profile model reveals profile differences are largely due to DRA, self-perceived ADRD risk, and preparedness for future care needs; health-related anxiety, age, ADRD exposure, and anticipated ADRD stigma contribute to profile differences as well. Profiles of the youngest and oldest groups reported the lowest and highest levels of preparedness for future care, along with the lowest DRA and self-perceived risk. Several covariates, particularly those assessing general psychological functioning, were also related to profile membership. Discussion: The resulting profiles point to several factors associated with elevated anxiety about ADRD, which do not fully match the risk factors for ADRD.
KW - Alzheimer’s disease and related dementias
KW - Dementia-related anxiety
KW - Latent profile analysis
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=85145242276&partnerID=8YFLogxK
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/citedby.url?scp=85145242276&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1093/geronb/gbac082
DO - 10.1093/geronb/gbac082
M3 - Article
C2 - 35678193
AN - SCOPUS:85145242276
SN - 1079-5014
VL - 77
SP - 2182
EP - 2191
JO - Journals of Gerontology - Series B Psychological Sciences and Social Sciences
JF - Journals of Gerontology - Series B Psychological Sciences and Social Sciences
IS - 12
ER -