Factors associated with sustained attention during an activity intervention in persons with dementia.
OBJECTIVE
Are the noncognitive factors of self-reported mood and personality related to sustained attention in nursing home residents with dementia during an activity intervention?


METHODS
Intervention data from a randomized clinical trial were used to address the aim of this project. Subjects were 128 nursing home residents who were assessed for mood, personality, behavioral indicators of attention, time on task and number of disengagements during an activity intervention.


RESULTS
More positive self-reported mood was associated with greater behavioral displays of attention during activities, greater time spent engaged in the activities and less disengagement.


CONCLUSIONS
To our knowledge, this is the first study to report on the association of mood, personality and sustained attention in nursing home residents with dementia. While the findings are preliminary, they can be used to inform the design of future research.
School of Nursing, Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA 16802-6508, USA. amk20@psu.edu
Ann
A
Kolanowski
Ann
A
Bossen
Nikki
N
Hill
Edmarie
E
Guzman-Velez
Mark
M
Litaker
D000203:Activities of Daily Living / Q000523:psychology; D000339:Affect / Q000502:physiology; D000368:Aged; D001288:Attention / Q000502:physiology*; D003704:Dementia / Q000523:psychology*; D039721:Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D015999:Multivariate Analysis; D009483:Neuropsychological Tests; D009497:Neurotic Disorders / Q000523:psychology; D009735:Nursing Homes; D010551:Personality / Q000502:physiology; D010556:Personality Tests; D011597:Psychomotor Performance; D011998:Recreation / Q000523:psychology*