Validation of the Fear and Avoidance of Memory Loss scale in community-based older adults

Francesca R. Farina; Pavithra Pavithra; Hosanna An; Melissa Marquez; Patricia O'Loughlin; John Regan; Michelle Taddeo; Marc Bennett; Bert Lenaert; James W. Griffith

doi:10.1002/dad2.12432

Validation of the Fear and Avoidance of Memory Loss scale in community-based older adults

Francesca R. Farina^*, Pavithra Pavithra, Hosanna An, Melissa Marquez, Patricia O'Loughlin, John Regan, Michelle Taddeo, Marc Bennett, Bert Lenaert, James W. Griffith

^*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › Academic › peer-review

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.

Original language	English
Article number	e12432
Pages (from-to)	1-9
Number of pages	9
Journal	Alzheimer's and Dementia: Diagnosis, Assessment and Disease Monitoring
Volume	15
Issue number	2
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1002/dad2.12432 https://doi.org/10.1002/dad2.12432
Publication status	Published - 1 Apr 2023

Keywords

Alzheimer's disease
Avoidance
Fear
Memory loss
Older adults

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10.1002/dad2.12432

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Farina, F. R., Pavithra, P., An, H., Marquez, M., O'Loughlin, P., Regan, J., Taddeo, M., Bennett, M., Lenaert, B., & Griffith, J. W. (2023). Validation of the Fear and Avoidance of Memory Loss scale in community-based older adults. Alzheimer's and Dementia: Diagnosis, Assessment and Disease Monitoring, 15(2), 1-9. Article e12432. https://doi.org/10.1002/dad2.12432, https://doi.org/10.1002/dad2.12432

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title = "Validation of the Fear and Avoidance of Memory Loss scale in community-based older adults",

abstract = "IntroductionAlzheimer'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.MethodsWe 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.ResultsWe 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.DiscussionWe present the first measure of fear avoidance specific to memory loss. We propose that targeting fear avoidance can promote ADRD risk reduction and resiliency.",

keywords = "Alzheimer's disease, Avoidance, Fear, Memory loss, Older adults",

author = "Farina, {Francesca R.} and Pavithra Pavithra and Hosanna An and Melissa Marquez and Patricia O'Loughlin and John Regan and Michelle Taddeo and Marc Bennett and Bert Lenaert and Griffith, {James W.}",

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doi = "10.1002/dad2.12432",

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Farina, FR, Pavithra, P, An, H, Marquez, M, O'Loughlin, P, Regan, J, Taddeo, M, Bennett, M, Lenaert, B & Griffith, JW 2023, 'Validation of the Fear and Avoidance of Memory Loss scale in community-based older adults', Alzheimer's and Dementia: Diagnosis, Assessment and Disease Monitoring, vol. 15, no. 2, e12432, pp. 1-9. https://doi.org/10.1002/dad2.12432, https://doi.org/10.1002/dad2.12432

TY - JOUR

T1 - Validation of the Fear and Avoidance of Memory Loss scale in community-based older adults

AU - Farina, Francesca R.

AU - Pavithra, Pavithra

AU - An, Hosanna

AU - Marquez, Melissa

AU - O'Loughlin, Patricia

AU - Regan, John

AU - Taddeo, Michelle

AU - Bennett, Marc

AU - Lenaert, Bert

AU - Griffith, James W.

PY - 2023/4/1

Y1 - 2023/4/1

N2 - IntroductionAlzheimer'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.MethodsWe 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.ResultsWe 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.DiscussionWe present the first measure of fear avoidance specific to memory loss. We propose that targeting fear avoidance can promote ADRD risk reduction and resiliency.

AB - IntroductionAlzheimer'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.MethodsWe 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.ResultsWe 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.DiscussionWe present the first measure of fear avoidance specific to memory loss. We propose that targeting fear avoidance can promote ADRD risk reduction and resiliency.

KW - Alzheimer's disease

KW - Avoidance

KW - Fear

KW - Memory loss

KW - Older adults

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DO - 10.1002/dad2.12432

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SN - 2352-8729

VL - 15

SP - 1

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JO - Alzheimer's and Dementia: Diagnosis, Assessment and Disease Monitoring

JF - Alzheimer's and Dementia: Diagnosis, Assessment and Disease Monitoring

IS - 2

M1 - e12432

ER -

Validation of the Fear and Avoidance of Memory Loss scale in community-based older adults

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