Validation of the Fear and Avoidance of Memory Loss scale in community‐based older adults
Abstract Introduction Alzheimer's disease and related dementias (ADRD) are among the most feared conditions. However, research around ADRD‐specific fear and avoidance behaviors is lacking. Here, we validated a novel measure of fear and avoidance specific to memory loss, the Fear and Avoidance o...
| Main Authors: | , , , , , , , , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
Wiley
2023-04-01
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| Series: | Alzheimer’s & Dementia: Diagnosis, Assessment & Disease Monitoring |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1002/dad2.12432 |
| _version_ | 1827353782619471872 |
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| author | Francesca R. Farina Pavithra Pavithra Hosanna An Melissa Marquez Patricia O'Loughlin John Regan Michelle Taddeo Marc Bennett Bert Lenaert James W. Griffith |
| author_facet | Francesca R. Farina Pavithra Pavithra Hosanna An Melissa Marquez Patricia O'Loughlin John Regan Michelle Taddeo Marc Bennett Bert Lenaert James W. Griffith |
| author_sort | Francesca R. Farina |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Abstract Introduction Alzheimer's disease and related dementias (ADRD) are among the most feared conditions. However, research around ADRD‐specific fear and avoidance behaviors is lacking. Here, we validated a novel measure of fear and avoidance specific to memory loss, the Fear and Avoidance of Memory Loss (FAM) scale, and examined associations between fear avoidance and psychosocial functioning in older adults. Methods We assessed FAM Scale internal reliability and concurrent validity, and candidate subscales across two samples (total N = 813). We then examined associations between fear avoidance and memory performance, anxiety, depressive symptoms, sleep, social functioning, and quality of life. Results We identified two subscales: fear and avoidance, which yielded strong psychometric validity. Higher fear was associated with memory failures and sleep disturbance. Higher avoidance was associated with memory failures, poorer verbal memory, reduced social functioning, and quality of life. Discussion We present the first measure of fear avoidance specific to memory loss. We propose that targeting fear avoidance can promote ADRD risk reduction and resiliency. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-08T03:32:55Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-1e59351b7d0f46418e2d38601d327a21 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2352-8729 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-08T03:32:55Z |
| publishDate | 2023-04-01 |
| publisher | Wiley |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Alzheimer’s & Dementia: Diagnosis, Assessment & Disease Monitoring |
| spelling | doaj.art-1e59351b7d0f46418e2d38601d327a212024-02-10T14:10:32ZengWileyAlzheimer’s & Dementia: Diagnosis, Assessment & Disease Monitoring2352-87292023-04-01152n/an/a10.1002/dad2.12432Validation of the Fear and Avoidance of Memory Loss scale in community‐based older adultsFrancesca R. Farina0Pavithra Pavithra1Hosanna An2Melissa Marquez3Patricia O'Loughlin4John Regan5Michelle Taddeo6Marc Bennett7Bert Lenaert8James W. Griffith9Feinberg School of Medicine Department of Medical Social Sciences Northwestern University Chicago Illinois USASchool of Medicine Trinity College Dublin Dublin IrelandFeinberg School of Medicine Department of Medical Social Sciences Northwestern University Chicago Illinois USAFeinberg School of Medicine Department of Medical Social Sciences Northwestern University Chicago Illinois USASchool of Psychology Trinity College Dublin Dublin IrelandSchool of Psychology Trinity College Dublin Dublin IrelandFeinberg School of Medicine Department of Medical Social Sciences Northwestern University Chicago Illinois USASchool of Psychology University College Dublin Dublin IrelandFaculty of Psychology Open University Heerlen the NetherlandsFeinberg School of Medicine Department of Medical Social Sciences Northwestern University Chicago Illinois USAAbstract Introduction Alzheimer's disease and related dementias (ADRD) are among the most feared conditions. However, research around ADRD‐specific fear and avoidance behaviors is lacking. Here, we validated a novel measure of fear and avoidance specific to memory loss, the Fear and Avoidance of Memory Loss (FAM) scale, and examined associations between fear avoidance and psychosocial functioning in older adults. Methods We assessed FAM Scale internal reliability and concurrent validity, and candidate subscales across two samples (total N = 813). We then examined associations between fear avoidance and memory performance, anxiety, depressive symptoms, sleep, social functioning, and quality of life. Results We identified two subscales: fear and avoidance, which yielded strong psychometric validity. Higher fear was associated with memory failures and sleep disturbance. Higher avoidance was associated with memory failures, poorer verbal memory, reduced social functioning, and quality of life. Discussion We present the first measure of fear avoidance specific to memory loss. We propose that targeting fear avoidance can promote ADRD risk reduction and resiliency.https://doi.org/10.1002/dad2.12432Alzheimer's diseaseavoidancefearmemory lossolder adults |
| spellingShingle | Francesca R. Farina Pavithra Pavithra Hosanna An Melissa Marquez Patricia O'Loughlin John Regan Michelle Taddeo Marc Bennett Bert Lenaert James W. Griffith Validation of the Fear and Avoidance of Memory Loss scale in community‐based older adults Alzheimer’s & Dementia: Diagnosis, Assessment & Disease Monitoring Alzheimer's disease avoidance fear memory loss older adults |
| title | Validation of the Fear and Avoidance of Memory Loss scale in community‐based older adults |
| title_full | Validation of the Fear and Avoidance of Memory Loss scale in community‐based older adults |
| title_fullStr | Validation of the Fear and Avoidance of Memory Loss scale in community‐based older adults |
| title_full_unstemmed | Validation of the Fear and Avoidance of Memory Loss scale in community‐based older adults |
| title_short | Validation of the Fear and Avoidance of Memory Loss scale in community‐based older adults |
| title_sort | validation of the fear and avoidance of memory loss scale in community based older adults |
| topic | Alzheimer's disease avoidance fear memory loss older adults |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1002/dad2.12432 |
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