The social functioning in dementia scale (SF‐DEM): Exploratory factor analysis and psychometric properties in mild, moderate, and severe dementia. Issue 1 (14th December 2018)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Budgett, Jessica; Brown, Anna; Daley, Stephanie; Page, Thomas E.; Banerjee, Sube; Livingston, Gill; Sommerlad, Andrew
• Is Part Of: Alzheimer's & dementia. Volume 11:Issue 1(2019)
• Page Start: 45
• Page End: 52
• Publication Date: 2018-12-14
• Subjects: Psychometrics -- Factor analysis -- Social behaviour -- Dementia -- Behavior Rating Scale; Alzheimer's disease -- Periodicals; Alzheimer's disease -- Diagnosis -- Periodicals; Dementia -- Periodicals; Dementia -- Diagnosis -- Periodicals; 616.831
• DOI: 10.1016/j.dadm.2018.11.001
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 2352-8729

Abstract

Abstract: Introduction: The psychometric properties of the social functioning in dementia scale over different dementia severities are unknown. Methods: We interviewed 299 family carers of people with mild, moderate, or severe dementia from two UK research sites; examined acceptability (completion rates); conducted exploratory factor analysis; and tested each factor's internal consistency and construct validity. Results: Of 299, 285 (95.3%) carers completed questionnaires. Factor analysis indicated three distinct factors with acceptable internal consistency: spending time with other people, correlating with overall social function (r = 0.56, P < .001) and activities of daily living (r = −0.48, P < .001); communicating with other people correlating with activities of daily living (r = −0.66, P < .001); and sensitivity to other people correlating with quality of life (r = 0.35, P < .001) and inversely with neuropsychiatric symptoms (r = −0.45, P < .001). The three factors' correlations with other domains were similar across all dementia severities. Discussion: The social functioning in dementia scale carer version measures three social functioning domains and has satisfactory psychometric properties in all severities of dementia.