Alzheimer Disease (AD) is an organic psycho-syndrome which affects mainly elderly people. AD patients have to confront problems in their social interactions daily. Therefore they become receivers of acceptance or rejection by the wider social group to which they belong. Aim: The study investigated how well informed is the Greek population regarding dementia, and how do they feel or react towards patients with dementia. Method: A specific questionnaire was constructed, which was administered to 70 participants, 31 male and 39 female, 20-60 years old, with 0-17 years of education. Results: AD is followed by highly positive emotional reactions in Greek society (98.2%). The participants’ majority did not feel susceptible (77.1%) or stressed (71.4%) by the possible risk of the disease. There is a quite satisfactory level of awareness regarding dementia and AD (44%). People’s previous experience with AD patients (p=0.031), as well as their locus of residence (p=0.011) affect their capability of identifying the disease. Women were more willing to show concern, compassion, desire to help and sympathy (p=0.039). Those more highly educated felt more susceptible to AD (p=0.039). Those who felt more susceptible to the disease and they had more aggressive emotions (p=0.022) and severe stress about the possible risk to get diseased by dementia, expressed rejection (p=0.017) and social emotions (p=0.029). Conclusion: Many of the Greek people who participated were aware about the issue of dementia, and the majority of them expressed positive emotions towards a patient with dementia.
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In-Text Citation: (Nikolaidou et al., 2014)
To Cite this Article: Nikolaidou, ?., Kounti, F., & Tsolaki, ?. (2014). Emotional Reactions towards Dementia: The Right to Life. International Journal of Academic Research in Psychology, 1(1), 128–145.
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