Journals of Gerontology Series B: Psychological Sciences and Social Sciences
HOME HELP FEEDBACK SUBSCRIPTIONS ARCHIVE SEARCH TABLE OF CONTENTS
 QUICK SEARCH:   [advanced]
Author:
Keyword(s):
Year:  Vol:  Page: 


This Article
Right arrow Full Text
Right arrow Full Text (PDF)
Right arrow Alert me when this article is cited
Right arrow Alert me if a correction is posted
Services
Right arrow Similar articles in this journal
Right arrow Similar articles in PubMed
Right arrow Alert me to new issues of the journal
Right arrow Download to citation manager
Right arrow Cited by other online articles
Google Scholar
Right arrow Articles by Wadley, V. G.
Right arrow Articles by Haley, W. E.
Right arrow Articles citing this Article
PubMed
Right arrow PubMed Citation
Right arrow Articles by Wadley, V. G.
Right arrow Articles by Haley, W. E.
The Journals of Gerontology Series B: Psychological Sciences and Social Sciences 56:P244-P252 (2001)
© 2001 The Gerontological Society of America


RESEARCH ARTICLE

Diagnostic Attributions Versus Labeling

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

Virginia G. Wadleya and William E. Haleyb

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: (Search Google Scholar for Other Citing Articles)


Home page
AM J ALZHEIMERS DIS OTHER DEMENHome page
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]




HOME HELP FEEDBACK SUBSCRIPTIONS ARCHIVE SEARCH TABLE OF CONTENTS
All GSA journals The Gerontologist
Journals of Gerontology Series A: Biological Sciences and Medical Sciences
Copyright © 2001 by The Gerontological Society of America.