Measuring adolescent attitudes towards dementia: The revalidation and refinement of the A-ADS

The A-ADS is one the first validated measures of attitudes of dementia in adolescents, though further validation is needed. 630 adolescents were recruited from secondary schools in England. A Principal Component Analysis was completed (n= 230) followed by a Confirmatory Factor Analysis (n= 400). Reducing the A-ADS into a single factor, 13-item measure (Brief A-ADS) improved the model fit of the measure (chi(2)= 182.75, DF = 65, CMIN/DF = 2.81,p < 0.001, CFI = 0.90, RMSEA = 0.07). The scale demonstrated good internal consistency, good predictive and concurrent validity. Building on the validation of the A-ADS, the Brief A-ADS is suitable to capture attitudes towards dementia amongst adolescents.