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Cited by 77Dementia and Cognitive Impairment ResearchPsychology and Mental HealthAging and Gerontology Research

Diagnostic Attributions Versus Labeling: Impact of Alzheimer's Disease and Major Depression Diagnoses on Emotions, Beliefs, and Helping Intentions of Family Members

Wadley, V. G., Haley, W. E.·2001·The Journals of Gerontology Series B: Psychological Sciences and Social Sciences
DOI 10.1093/geronb/56.4.p244
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Abstract

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.

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  • People with depression have tended to be seen as more emotionally unstable, less worthy of sympathy, and responsible for causing their own problems compared with people with physical health problems.

    “When compared with people with physical health problems, people with depression have tended to be seen as more emotionally unstable, less worthy of sympathy, and responsible for causing their own problems.[20][21][22]”

    From Can a self-referral system help improve access to psychological treatments? (2010) · cites this paper as [21]

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  1. Hatfield, A. B., & Lefley, H. P. (Eds.). (1987). Families of the mentally ill. New York: Guilford Press.

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Authors
Wadley, V. G., & Haley, W. E.
Affiliations
  • University of Alabama at Birmingham (US)
  • University of South Florida (US)
Corresponding author
Wadley, V. G.
ORCID
Venue
The Journals of Gerontology Series B: Psychological Sciences and Social Sciences
Publisher
Oxford University Press (OUP)
Published
2001-07-01
Volume
56
Issue
4
Pages
P244-P252
ISSN
  • 1079-5014 (ISSN-L)
  • 1758-5368
DOI
10.1093/geronb/56.4.p244
OpenAlex
W2137056232
Cited by
77
References
42
Citations by year
2025: 6 · 2024: 3 · 2023: 1 · 2022: 3 · 2020: 6 · 2019: 1 · 2018: 3 · 2016: 4 · 2015: 2 · 2014: 3 · 2013: 5 · 2012: 8
FWCI
1.29
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
closed
Locations
  • The Journals of Gerontology Series B (publishedVersion)
  • PubMed (publishedVersion)
Funders
  • University of Alabama at Birmingham (35294)
  • University of Alabama
Topics
  • Health Sciences › Medicine › Psychiatry and Mental health › Dementia and Cognitive Impairment Research
  • Social Sciences › Psychology › Clinical Psychology › Psychology and Mental Health
  • Social Sciences › Psychology › Neuropsychology and Physiological Psychology › Aging and Gerontology Research
Keywords
labeling theory, attribution theory, Alzheimer's disease, major depressive disorder, disease stigma, medicalization, helping intentions, sympathy, blame, parental gender, older adults, family caregivers, emotional responses
MeSH terms
Adult, Aged, Alzheimer Disease, Asian, Black or African American, Cultural Characteristics, Depressive Disorder, Major, Major Depressive Disorder, Emotions, Ethnicity, Family, Female, Hispanic or Latino, Humans, Indians, North American, Social Behavior, Stereotyping, Caregivers, White People

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