Reducing Stigma Against Dementia

Since stereotypes, stigmas, and discrimination exist against people diagnosed with dementia, it is important to figure out how they can be reduced or nearly eliminated. Cheng & colleagues (2011) explored this by exposing one community in Hong Kong to situations involving and information about dementia. The participants were given vignettes to read about a person with dementia, describing a situation that exemplified their symptoms. After giving participants a questionnaire addressing stigma before and after this reading task, the researchers found that there was less stigma after exposure to the scenarios describing people living with dementia. This has promising implications, such that more advocacy and awareness about the various forms of dementia could decrease negative attitudes held against people diagnosed with dementia.

Access this article: The effects of exposure to scenarios about dementia on stigma and attitudes toward dementia care in a Chinese community.