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Psychometric Evaluation of a Worry Scale for Dementia

Kinzer, Adrianna J.
http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=ohiou1379067499

Abstract Details

2013, Master of Science (MS), Ohio University, Clinical Psychology (Arts and Sciences).
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
Julie Suhr, PhD (Advisor)
Justin Weeks, PhD (Committee Member)
Christopher France, PhD (Committee Member)
64 p.
Clinical Psychology; Health; Neurosciences; Psychology; Public Health
Dementia; Worry; Health Anxiety; Psychometric evaluation

Recommended Citations

Citations

  • Kinzer, A. J. (2013). Psychometric Evaluation of a Worry Scale for Dementia [Master's thesis, Ohio University]. OhioLINK Electronic Theses and Dissertations Center. http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=ohiou1379067499

    APA Style (7th edition)

  • Kinzer, Adrianna. Psychometric Evaluation of a Worry Scale for Dementia. 2013. Ohio University, Master's thesis. OhioLINK Electronic Theses and Dissertations Center, http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=ohiou1379067499.

    MLA Style (8th edition)

  • Kinzer, Adrianna. "Psychometric Evaluation of a Worry Scale for Dementia." Master's thesis, Ohio University, 2013. http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=ohiou1379067499

    Chicago Manual of Style (17th edition)

ohiou1379067499
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© 2013, all rights reserved.
This open access ETD is published by Ohio University and OhioLINK.