Knowledge and Health Beliefs About Dementia Prevention Among Chinese Older Adults: A Qualitative Study

Abstract

Self-management interventions are becoming more prevalent for individuals aiming to prevent dementia. However, the effectiveness of this approach is heavily shaped by health beliefs. This study seeks to investigate Chinese older adults’ knowledge and health beliefs about dementia prevention and examine the unique characteristics and transformations of Chinese culture with their associated implications. These insights aim to inform the development of more effective prevention strategies. Using the informed grounded theory approach, guided by the health belief model, we conducted semi-structured interviews with 42 older adults. The conceptual framework centered on three themes, allowing the identification of both barriers and facilitators to dementia prevention. These factors reflect the cultural influences on dementia prevention, including positive cultural transformations: the decline of traditional superstitions, the emergence of modern scientific thinking, the shift from negative to positive aging paradigms, and the growing acceptance of digital technologies among older adults. At the same time, traditional cultural elements—such as aversion to illness, fear of death, and the importance placed on “mianzi”—persist in reinforcing the stigma associated with dementia. Moreover, collectivist values exert dual influences, both facilitating and inhibiting individual health behaviors.