Association between Experience of Pet Ownership and Psychological Health among Socially Isolated and Non-Isolated Older Adults

Ikeuchi, Tomoko; Taniguchi, Yu; Abe, Takumi; Seino, Satoshi; Shimada, Chiho; Kitamura, Akihiko; Shinkai, Shoji

doi:10.3390/ani11030595

Cited by 25 publications

(34 citation statements)

References 32 publications

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“…In future work it will be important to consider the psychological pathways that may link dog ownership to reduced disability onset. A recent study reported that dog ownership improves the psychological well-being of socially isolated older adults [ 31 ]. It is known that psychological well-being is inversely related to the onset of frailty [ 32 ].…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Evidence that dog ownership protects against the onset of disability in an older community-dwelling Japanese population

et al. 2022

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Objectives This study examined the association between dog and cat ownership, the onset of disability and all-cause mortality in an older population. Dog and cat owners take more regular exercise and have closer social relationships than non-owners. We further assess the beneficial effects of these moderating variables on the onset of disability and mortality. Methods Dog and cat ownership data were collected from 11233 community-dwelling adults age 65 years and older. These data were matched with data about the onset of disability held by the Japanese long-term care insurance system. Local registry data were used to ascertain all-cause mortality. Results During the approximately 3.5 year follow-up period, 17.1% of the sample suffered onset of disability, and 5.2% died. Logistic regression analysis indicated that, compared with a reference group of those who had never owned a dog (odds ratio fixed at 1.0), older adults who were currently dog owners had a significantly lower odds ratio of onset of disability (OR = 0.54 95% CI: 0.37–0.79). Our results further show that regular exercise interacts with dog ownership to reduce the risk of disability. The association of dog and/or cat ownership with all-cause mortality was not statistically significant. Conclusions Dog ownership appears to protect against incident disability among older Japanese adults. Additional benefits are gained from ownership combined with regular exercise. Daily dog care may have an important role to play in health promotion and successful aging.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Evidence that dog ownership protects against the onset of disability in an older community-dwelling Japanese population

et al. 2022

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“…Growing evidence suggests that having a dog may be particularly beneficial when owners regularly walk them. Dog walking has been implicated as a means to increase opportunities for social interaction and improve psychological health for older adults [10]. Older adult dog owners who are socially isolated may be motivated to walk their dogs, offering several downstream positive effects likely to reduce loneliness such as increased physical activity, improved mental health, and increased opportunities for social interactions.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Dog Walking and the Social Impact of the COVID-19 Pandemic on Loneliness in Older Adults

Carr

Friedmann

Gee

et al. 2021

Animals

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Pet ownership can provide important companionship and facilitate social connections, which may be particularly important to socially isolated older adults. Given the significant deleterious impact of loneliness on health and wellbeing in later life, many predicted that public safety measures imposed during the COVID-19 pandemic would greatly increase loneliness, particularly among vulnerable populations like older adults. We investigated whether dog walking buffers loneliness in the context of stressors imposed by the COVID-19 pandemic. Longitudinal survey data were obtained from a Florida community-based sample of adults (n = 466) aged 60+ years old in September 2018 and October 2020. Using OLS regression models, we tested: (a) the association between the social consequences of COVID-19 and changes in loneliness, and (b) the buffering effect of dog walking on this relationship. The high social consequences of COVID-19 were related to increases in loneliness. Walking a dog daily buffered the relationship. These results suggest potential therapeutic effects of dog walking for the promotion of mental health in older adults, particularly in the context of stressful situations that accentuate risks for loneliness.

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“…Relating to psychological and social benefits, recent studies suggest that pet ownership may improve well-being, life satisfaction, and happiness, as well as decrease loneliness and social isolation, depressive symptoms, and anxiety [ 16 , 17 , 18 , 19 , 20 , 21 , 22 , 23 , 24 ]. It may also increase levels of physical activity and/or walking of older adult pet owners [ 25 , 26 , 27 , 28 , 29 ].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Understanding the Benefits, Challenges, and the Role of Pet Ownership in the Daily Lives of Community-Dwelling Older Adults: A Case Study

Obradović

Lagueux

Latulippe

et al. 2021

Animals

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Human–animal interactions may positively impact the health and well-being of older adults. Considering about one third of community-dwelling older adults report owning a pet, better understanding the benefits, challenges, and the role of pet ownership may help support the relationships between older adults and their pets. This case study aims to better understand the role of pet ownership in the daily lives of older adults and explore the benefits and the challenges of owning a pet for this population. Interviews were conducted with Violet, a 77-year-old dog owner and her healthcare provider. Qualitative data were analyzed by two evaluators and validated by the participants. Both participants agree that the benefits outweigh the challenges for both the older adult and her pet. The benefits and challenges were the following: Violet, taking care of her dog (Jack), (1) could provide Violet with a sense of safety and positively influence her mood; (2) may introduce a slight fall risk; (3) includes financial costs to consider. Ensuring Jack’s well-being is important for Violet and her dog benefits from Violet’s continual presence and care. The findings suggest that improving the fit between characteristics of the owner and their pet may support the meaningful role of pet ownership within the context of aging-in-place.

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Association between Experience of Pet Ownership and Psychological Health among Socially Isolated and Non-Isolated Older Adults

Cited by 25 publications

References 32 publications

Evidence that dog ownership protects against the onset of disability in an older community-dwelling Japanese population

Evidence that dog ownership protects against the onset of disability in an older community-dwelling Japanese population

Dog Walking and the Social Impact of the COVID-19 Pandemic on Loneliness in Older Adults

Understanding the Benefits, Challenges, and the Role of Pet Ownership in the Daily Lives of Community-Dwelling Older Adults: A Case Study

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