The impact of mortality salience for people living with mild dementia
Research type
Research Study
Full title
The impact of mortality salience for people living with dementia: replication and extension of a study from Social Psychology
IRAS ID
252307
Contact name
Richard Cheston
Contact email
Sponsor organisation
University of the West of England
Duration of Study in the UK
0 years, 7 months, 31 days
Research summary
In this study we are testing an idea from social psychology - that when people with dementia are reminded about their mortality, then those people who are more prone to being nostalgic, and to thinking about past identities, will be more able to find life meaningful.
All participants have mild levels of dementia and therefore have capacity to give consent. After completing two questionnaires to identify how much time they spend being nostalgic and thinking about past identities, we will then ask half to spend a few moments thinking about what will happen when they die, and the other half to think about a visit to the dentist (the control condition). We will then ask all of the participants to complete a questionnaire about how threatening they feel dementia is, and how meaningful they find life.
We expect that when those participants who are prone to nostalgia, and who spend time remembering past identities are reminded about their death, then they will still be able to find life meaningful, and be less threatened by dementia. If it is the case that people who are more prone to nostalgia, and to thinking about past identities, are less threatened by their dementia, and find more meaning in life when they are reminded of their mortality, then this provides a strong case for developing interventions that help to enhance psychological resilience in this way. More generally, the study may also cast light on why some people who have dementia often spend time thinking and talking about the past. These behaviours are often thought to be directly related to neurological impairment - but if we do replicate the findings from social psychology, then this study would point to these behaviours being protective against threat, and particularly against existential anxiety.
We know that asking people to think about their death is often distressing. However, we will tell all participants in advance that this is what the study is about, so that they can decide for themselves if they want to take part. At the end of the study, we will also show participants a comedy video so that they leave the study feeling better, and explain why we are doing the study. If participants are upset, then they will be asked if they would like to stop.
REC name
Wales REC 1
REC reference
18/WA/0325
Date of REC Opinion
31 Oct 2018
REC opinion
Further Information Favourable Opinion