Exploring male perceptions and attitudes towards dementia using stigma theory.

Introduction: 

Dementia is a major public health concern. However, research shows that awareness of dementia amongst the general public is often poor, and that dementia stigma and misconceptions are common. This could impede dementia recognition, disclosure, and help-seeking. Evidence suggests that men may hold more stigmatising views of dementia than women, yet there is a lack of qualitative research focusing on male attitudes. Therefore, this qualitative study aimed to provide an in-depth exploration of male perceptions of dementia. 

Method: 

Semi-structured interviews were conducted with 12 men (age range = 20 to 80+ years) in England. Five participants had a relative who lived with dementia. The data were analysed through the lens of Goffman’s (1963) Stigma Theory using hybrid (i.e., combined inductive and deductive) thematic analysis. 

Results: 

Four themes were generated. Carer Strain due to Dementia Theme: Dementia was perceived to substantially impact carers’ physical, mental, and financial wellbeing (e.g., burnout, lack of affordable care). Masculine Expectations of Dementia Theme: Participants reported that dementia can impair one’s masculinity, particularly by impairing self-reliance and the ability to support one’s family. Furthermore, dementia caregiving was often viewed as a primarily female role. Changes in Identity Theme: dementia was perceived to significantly alter personality and detrimentally affect autonomy. Diminished Sense of Personhood Theme: Participants reported that people living with dementia can lose their ability to interact with others and be psychologically present, which can cause grief and distress for carers. As such, some viewed dementia as a ‘living bereavement’. 

Conclusion: 

This study represented a novel application of Stigma Theory to explore male perceptions of dementia. The findings suggest that the influence of gender should be considered when developing programmes to improve dementia awareness and to support people living with dementia and their carers. Future research should explore male dementia perceptions across countries and cultures.