Public reactions and perceptions associated with three neuro-degenerative diseases: Parkinson’s, Alzheimer’s and Multiple Sclerosis

Few studies to date have investigated how the public perceives neuro-degenerative diseases such as Parkinson’s, Alzheimer’s, and Multiple Sclerosis. One example of a published study is by Moore (2006) who explored public beliefs of Parkinson’s disease and found stigma to be attached to people with this disease. Examples of other studies are by Werner and Davidson (2004), who examined the emotional reactions of the public toward a person with Alzheimer’s disease, and Werner (2005) who assessed social distance toward people with Alzheimer’s disease. The present study aimed to ascertain how emotional responses were associated with social distance toward people with Parkinson’s disease, and to compare the extent that emotional responses, social rejection and perceived stigma were associated with each of Parkinson’s disease, Alzheimer’s disease and Multiple Sclerosis. A scale measuring perceived stigma based on the stigma theory by Jones and colleagues (1984) (cited in Joachim and Acorn, 2000) was developed for the purposes of the present study. The psychometric properties of this researcher-developed Perceived Stigma Scale were assessed. The role of personality in predicting the extent that individuals socially rejected and perceived stigma to be associated with people with the three diseases was also investigated. All data were collected via a questionnaire that assessed perceived stigma, emotional reactions, and social distance associated with the three diseases. Also included was a measure of the five-factor model of personality. Results of the responses of 165 participants indicated that in regards to people with Parkinson’s disease the Perceived Stigma Scale showed some limited evidence of factorial validity and substantial evidence of reliability and construct related validity. Both anxiety and anger emotional reactions were predictive of social distance toward people with Parkinson’s disease. Higher levels of negative emotions, social rejection and perceived stigma were associated with Alzheimer’s disease than with Parkinson’s disease or Multiple Sclerosis. Openness to Experience and Agreeableness were the most influential personality predictors of social distance and perceived stigma across the three diseases. It was concluded that the way people perceive and respond to persons with the three diseases, although more negative for Alzheimer’s, is influenced by personality, emotion and causal attributions.