Quality of the Human–Animal Bond and Mental Wellbeing During a COVID-19 Lockdown

Wells, Deborah L.; Clements, Megan A.; Elliott, Laura J.; Meehan, Elizabeth; Montgomery, Cora J.; Williams, Grace A.

doi:10.1080/08927936.2022.2051935

Cited by 27 publications

(43 citation statements)

References 73 publications

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“…The presence of pets may have protected LTCH-clients against some of the negative effects of COVID-19 and its countermeasures. However, the results of a study that investigated adults in the UK showed that stronger attachment to a pet was related to higher reported rates of depression and loneliness and a lower degree of self-perceived positive experiences during a period of lockdown [ 39 ]. The results of a Brazilian study, on the other hand, are in line with our study.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

The Significance of Pets for Vulnerable Older Adults during the COVID-19 Pandemic: An Explorative Qualitative Study

Reniers

Leontjevas

Declercq

et al. 2022

Animals

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Older adults receiving long-term care at home (LTCH-clients) were impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic and its countermeasures. Previous research suggests that pets can mitigate some of the pandemic’s impacts for older adults but results are contradictory. Our aim was to investigate experiences of LTCH-clients and the significance of their pets during the pandemic. Accounting for saturation, semi-structured interviews were conducted with five LTCH-clients and four family caregivers of LTCH-clients with dementia. Participants were asked about their experiences with COVID-19 and the significance of LTCH-clients’ pets during the pandemic. Two researchers performed thematic analyses in ATLAS.ti using open coding and an iterative–inductive approach. All participants reported negative experiences as a result of COVID-19 countermeasures. Results suggested that caring for pets provided pet owners with structure, which may have contributed to a sense of stability and continuity. Our outcomes underlined an important role of pets for LTCH-clients both before and during the pandemic.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

The Significance of Pets for Vulnerable Older Adults during the COVID-19 Pandemic: An Explorative Qualitative Study

Reniers

Leontjevas

Declercq

et al. 2022

Animals

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“…We thought about the psychological problems of young people [ 33 , 35 , 55 , 56 ], we shared the need to explore solutions to mitigate the distress they are experiencing [ 58 ], and we investigated the potential of pets [ 22 , 23 , 24 ] in line with other studies that investigated the impact of the pet during the pandemic [ 35 , 36 , 37 , 38 , 39 , 40 , 41 , 42 , 43 , 44 , 45 , 46 , 47 , 48 ].…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic presented an opportunity to explore the role of animals as sources of emotional and physical support during a period when most of the population experienced social and environmental challenges. Several studies have addressed the impact of the presence of pets during the pandemic [ 35 , 36 , 37 , 38 , 39 , 40 , 41 , 42 , 43 , 44 , 45 , 46 , 47 , 48 ]. These studies addressed different aspects and led to different results.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…For participants in rural and semi-urban areas, living with a dog was associated with lower anxiety; for participants in urban areas, living with a dog was associated with higher anxiety [ 35 ]. Attachment to one’s companion animal was found to be a strong predictor of mental wellbeing, with higher bonds of attachment associated with higher levels of depression, loneliness, and lower levels of positive experience [ 36 ]. Four main themes related to the human-animal interactions during the COVID-19 lockdown phase were identified as strategic in [ 37 ] for investigations in this field: the positive impact of animal ownership during the COVID-19 lockdown (e.g., amelioration of wellbeing and mental health), concerns relating to animal ownership during the COVID-19 lockdown (e.g., concerns over animals carrying the COVID-19 virus), grief and loss of an animal during the COVID-19 lockdown, and the impact of engaging with non-companion animals during the COVID-19 lockdown.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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A Remote Assessment of Anxiety on Young People: Towards Their Views and Their Different Pet Interaction

et al. 2022

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The lockdown was imposed in Italy on 9 March 2020 due to the COVID-19 outbreak. Restrictions severely limiting individual freedom were indispensable to protect the population and reduce virus diffusion. Italian people had never before experienced similar restrictions that undoubtedly tested psychological health. After 1 week, we developed an electronic survey to collect demographic data and information on the presence of pets and the type of interaction with them and to administer a self-assessment anxiety test. A total of 3905 subjects, pet owners and non pet owners, filled in the electronic survey; 652 (16.7%, mean age 21.6) of them were young subjects, adolescents, and university students. The study first showed the feasibility and success of the technological solution used, capable of providing, at a distance, structured information on the participants and quantitative data on the psychological condition. Second, it reported that 23.1% of the youths showed anxiety above an attention level during the lockdown, in line with other studies. Third, it indicated, based on the outcome of the self-assessment test, that the pet presence could have a positive effect in mitigating the psychological impact and encourage to continue and deepen these investigations. Fourth, it reported positive feedback from the participants on the procedure, found useful during the pandemic and for the post-pandemic future. The study highlights the importance of investing in these solutions based on mobile technology and useful both for mental health and to deepen the investigation of the impact of the pet presence on the human psychology.

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“…Interestingly, in addition to this general conviction, contradictory results exist regarding the animal’s role in the context of stress management, but they receive little attention in public media as well as research [ 13 , 14 ]. In this context, studies suggest that animal companionship might be associated with increased symptoms of depression, higher levels of emotional distress, and a lower quality of life, especially during crises [ 15 , 16 , 17 ].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Fantastic Beasts and Why It Is Necessary to Understand Our Relationship—Animal Companionship under Challenging Circumstances Using the Example of Long-Covid

Krouzecky

Aden

Hametner

et al. 2022

Animals

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Studies in the field of human–animal interaction tend to highlight the positive results of the influence of animals on humans, which supports the popular belief that the human–animal bond positively affects humans’ well-being (“pet-effect”). Nevertheless, contradictory results exist that seem especially visible since the COVID-19 pandemic, a prominent external stressor. Despite critical findings, individuals seem to want to believe in the beneficial effects of the human–animal relationship (“pet-effect paradox”). Based on this background, the present study aims to investigate this phenomenon using a mixed-method design. Therefore, animal caregivers were surveyed online and compared using psychometric measurements and open-ended questions. In this context, a special focus was placed on the additional stressor of Long-Covid and related concerns. The results demonstrate once more the existence of the “pet-effect paradox” due to a contradiction in the quantitative and qualitative results. At a quantitative level, the findings show additional burdens on animal caregivers who are confronted with multiple loads. However, the qualitative results indicate a belief in the beneficial effects of pets at the biopsychosocial level. Additionally, the data demonstrate a shift in focus away from the environment to oneself when affected by Long-Covid, which might affect the ability to care for an animal.

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Quality of the Human–Animal Bond and Mental Wellbeing During a COVID-19 Lockdown

Cited by 27 publications

References 73 publications

The Significance of Pets for Vulnerable Older Adults during the COVID-19 Pandemic: An Explorative Qualitative Study

The Significance of Pets for Vulnerable Older Adults during the COVID-19 Pandemic: An Explorative Qualitative Study

A Remote Assessment of Anxiety on Young People: Towards Their Views and Their Different Pet Interaction

Fantastic Beasts and Why It Is Necessary to Understand Our Relationship—Animal Companionship under Challenging Circumstances Using the Example of Long-Covid

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