This Article Full Text Full Text (PDF) Services Download to citation manager Citing Articles Citing Articles via HighWire PubMed PubMed Citation

Diagnostic Attributions Versus Labeling

Impact of Alzheimer's Disease and Major Depression Diagnoses on Emotions, Beliefs, and Helping Intentions of Family Members

^a Department of Psychology and Center for Research in Applied Gerontology, University of Alabama at Birmingham
^b Department of Gerontology, University of South Florida, Tampa

Virginia G. Wadley, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Department of Psychology and Center for Research in Applied Gerontology, EFH 300, 1530 3rd Avenue South, Birmingham, AL 35294-0009 E-mail: vwadley{at}uab.edu.

Decision Editor: Toni C. Antonucci, PhD

Labeling theory suggests that applying disease labels to behavior may serve to medicalize deviance and produce stigma. In contrast, attribution theory suggests that this practice may evoke sympathetic responses. Female undergraduates (N = 221) read vignettes describing an older parent exhibiting inappropriate behavior in a social situation, with diagnostic label (Alzheimer's disease, major depression, no label), personal congruence of the behavior (congruent, incongruent, no information), and parent gender manipulated across participants. Participants rated their emotional responses, attributions, and willingness to help. The Alzheimer's disease label, and to a lesser extent the major depression label, produced more sympathy toward the parent, less blame, and greater willingness to help, indicating that the provision of these labels may facilitate compassionate attitudes and enhanced caregiving toward older adults. However, participants reported greater anger and higher personality attributions toward fathers than mothers, suggesting that the influence of parent gender on potential caregivers' reactions warrants further attention.

This article has been cited by other articles:

				R. D. Adelman, M. G. Greene, and E. Friedmann Discussions about cognitive impairment in first medical visits: Older patients' perceptions and preferences American Journal of Alzheimer's Disease and Other Dementias, July 1, 2004; 19(4): 233 - 238. [Abstract] [PDF]