Effects of clinical stage, behavioral and psychological symptoms of dementia, and living arrangement on social distance towards people with dementia.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Dementia presents significant challenges, including social exclusion, which can be exacerbated by public stigma. This study aimed to clarify how social distances, a common measure of public stigma, towards people living with dementia and its associated factors vary with clinical stage, presence of behavioral and psychological symptoms of dementia (BPSD), and living arrangements.

Methods

The study involved 2,589 Japanese participants aged 40 to 90 years. They were exposed to one of four vignettes depicting an 80-year-old woman progressing from normal ageing to mild, moderate, and severe dementia: Vignette A (living with husband, without BPSD); Vignette B (living with husband, with BPSD); Vignette C (living alone, without BPSD); and Vignette D (living alone, with BP

SUBMITTER: Ito K 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC11753676 | biostudies-literature | 2025

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature