Table 2.

Persons With MCI (PWMCI) and Family Member MCI Illness Perceptions

Dimension of illness perception (sample item)	Mean/median rating (n = 60 dyads)		Test statistic
	PWMCI	Family
Timeline chronic (I expect (my loved one) to have these memory or thinking difficulties for the rest of my (his) life.) Six items; maximum score = 30	18.66±4.1/19	19.46±4.0/20	Z = −.948, p = .343
Seriousness (My (loved one’s) memory or thinking difficulties are a serious condition.) Six items; maximum score = 30	16.46±5.1/16	18.61±5.9/18	t = −2.562, p = .013
Personal control (There is a lot which I (my loved one) can do to control my (her) symptoms.) Six items; maximum score = 30	20.60±4.5/21	18.75±4.7/19	t = 2.468, p =.017
Illness coherence (The symptoms of my (loved one’s) condition are puzzling to me.) Five items; maximum score = 25	16.25±4.5/17	17.48±3.9/19	Z = −1.733, p =.083
Timeline cyclical (My (loved one’s) symptoms come and go in cycles.) Four items; maximum score = 20	9.96±3.5/9	10.98±3.8/10	Z = −1.853, p =.064
Emotional upset (When I think about my (loved one’s) memory or thinking difficulties, I get upset.) Five items; maximum score = 25	16.65±4.9/16	17.01±4.5/16	t = −.479, p =.634

Note: PWMCI = persons with mild cognitive impairment.