Psychological Health Benefits of Companion Animals Following a Social Loss

Pet safety guidelines for pediatric transplant recipients

Approximately 70% (90.5 million) of United States (US) households own at least one pet. Dogs are the most common, making up about 38% of all household pets, followed by cats, which make up 25%. Other pets such as fish, birds, reptiles, and small animals such as hamsters, gerbils, and rabbits are less common household members. Pets are often considered a part of the family and there are significant medical and psychosocial benefits to pet ownership; however, the possibility of disease transmission exists related to the type of animal and infectious organism, and specific human risk factors. Immunocompromised individuals may be at increased risk of serious illness from zoonotic infections. During the transplant evaluation and routinely posttransplant, the multidisciplinary team should inquire about pet ownership and animal exposures to guide on potential risks. This review discusses the most common diseases seen in various household pets including dogs, cats, birds, fish, and some farm animals. We will also present guidelines for pet safety and include strategies to decrease the risk of infection while supporting the benefits of pet ownership after transplant.

Pet Ownership, Living Alone, and Cognitive Decline Among Adults 50 Years and Older

Importance

It remains unclear whether pet ownership is associated with cognitive decline and to what extent pet ownership mitigates the association between living alone and cognitive decline.

Objective

To explore the association of pet ownership with cognitive decline, the interaction between pet ownership and living alone, and the extent to which pet ownership mitigates the association between living alone and cognitive decline in older adults.

Design, Setting, and Participants

This cohort study used data from waves 5 (June 2010 to July 2011) to 9 (from June 2018 to July 2019) in the English Longitudinal Study of Ageing. Participants included adults 50 years and older. Data were analyzed from April 1 to June 30, 2023.

Exposures

Pet ownership and living alone in wave 5.

Main Outcomes and Measures

In waves 5 to 9, verbal memory and verbal fluency were assessed, and composite verbal cognition was further calculated.

Results

Of the 7945 participants included, the mean (SD) age was 66.3 (8.8) years, and 4446 (56.0%) were women. Pet ownership was associated with slower rates of decline in composite verbal cognition (β = 0.008 [95% CI, 0.002-0.014] SD/y), verbal memory (β = 0.006 [95% CI, 0.001-0.012] SD/y), and verbal fluency (β = 0.007 [95% CI, 0.001-0.013] SD/y). Three-way interaction tests showed that living alone was a significant modifier in all 3 associations. Stratified analyses showed that pet ownership was associated with slower rates of decline in composite verbal cognition (β = 0.023 [95% CI, 0.011-0.035] SD/y), verbal memory (β = 0.021 [95% CI, 0.008-0.034] SD/y), and verbal fluency (β = 0.018 [95% CI, 0.005-0.030] SD/y) among individuals living alone, but not among those living with others. Joint association analyses showed no significant difference in rates of decline in composite verbal cognition, verbal memory, or verbal fluency between pet owners living alone and pet owners living with others.

Conclusions and Relevance

In this cohort study, pet ownership was associated with slower rates of decline in verbal memory and verbal fluency among older adults living alone, but not among those living with others, and pet ownership offset the associations between living alone and declining rates in verbal memory and verbal fluency. Further studies are needed to assess whether pet ownership slows the rate of cognitive decline in older adults living alone.

A mixed methods exploration of a pilot photo-reflection intervention for enhancing coping and well-being during COVID-19

Restrictions enforced during the COVID-19 pandemic are associated with negative impacts on mental health and well-being. There is a need to support individuals to cope with these challenging circumstances. An embedded design mixed methods approach was employed to explore challenges experienced during the pandemic, the effectiveness of a photo-reflection intervention for enhancing coping, wellbeing, and resilience, and how this intervention functioned to impact on these outcomes. 108 participants were randomised to one of three photo-taking conditions; challenges experienced, coping strategies, or experiences and were assessed with measures of wellbeing, coping and resilience. In addition, open-ended survey questions were used to assess perceptions of experiences and of the effects of the intervention. There were no significant differences across the groups, however subjective psychological well-being, and emotional and functional well-being improved post-intervention regardless of intervention type. There was also an increase in planning and self-distraction coping for those whom the intervention elicited reflection. Qualitative data highlighted a range of challenges experienced and examples of both adaptive and maladaptive coping approaches. Photo-reflection intervention approaches may improve well-being and enhance coping during these challenging circumstances through providing opportunity to review and reflect on life experiences.

Pet ownership issues encountered by geriatic professionals: Preliminary findings from an interdisciplinary sample

Pets often factor in older adults’ health behaviors and decisions. However, the degree to which issues related to pet ownership are encountered or addressed by professionals working with this population remains unknown. The aim of this study was to identify specific issues stemming from pet ownership professionals had encountered in their work with older adults, people living with dementia, and care partners. An interdisciplinary (e.g., social services and healthcare) sample (N = 462, 89.13% female, M_age = 53.02, SD_age = 12.18) completed an online survey addressing pet ownership issues encountered in their work. Descriptive statistics, t-tests, and repeated measures ANOVAs were used to analyze quantitative data. A conventional content analysis was used to analyze open-ended responses to an item asking about “other” issues encountered in their work with these populations. The professionals estimated 46.29% of clients had been pet owners, 41.23% regularly asked about pets, and 79.22% had encountered issues related to pet ownership. Specific issues raised to the professionals varied by type of client. The professionals reported older adults most often raised getting pet items into the home and concerns about their pets’ health. The issues most often raised by people living with dementia to the professionals were planning for the pet due to a housing transition and basic pet care. Care partners focused on basic pet care and planning for the pet due to a housing transition. The professionals themselves most often raised the issues of basic pet care, concerns about falling, and the pets’ behavior. Professionals who entered clients’ homes were more likely to raise issues stemming from pet ownership compared to those who reported they did not enter clients’ homes in their current job, t(429.40) = 5.59, p < 0.00001. The eleven new issues identified by the content analysis (e.g., pets impeding care, people refusing care due to the pet) underscored how the health and wellbeing of people and their pets are linked. The results of this study provide strong evidence that professionals do encounter issues related to pet ownership. Including issues stemming from pet ownership into procedures, policies, and programs is likely to have positive impacts on those served by and working in the geriatric workforce.

Pet ownership and cognitive frailty among Chinese rural older adults who experienced a social loss: Is there a sex difference?

BACKGROUND

The loss of a spouse (widowed or divorced) is one of the most common forms of social loss in older adults. However, evidence is limited regarding whether social loss is associated with cognitive frailty. Maintaining pets has become increasingly popular. Despite its health benefits, little is known about whether pet ownership can buffer cognitive frailty in older adults facing social loss. Here, we examined the role of pet ownership in the relationship between social loss and cognitive frailty among males and females older adults living in rural China.

METHODS

A total of 2638 rural older adults were analysed. Binary logistic regression analyses were conducted to explore risk or protective factors associated with cognitive frailty. Participants were categorised into four groups according to social loss and pet ownership assessment: (i) no social loss + own pet, (ii) no social loss + no pet, (iii) social loss + own pet, and (iv) social loss + no pet. Binary logistic regression was also performed to examine the interaction effects of social loss and pet ownership on cognitive frailty stratified by sex.

RESULTS

Regardless of pet ownership, spousal loss was associated with cognitive frailty for men and women. Female participants who experienced loss without a pet had a significantly higher risk of cognitive frailty. However, we did not observe a significant association between pet ownership and cognitive frailty among men who experienced loss.

CONCLUSIONS

Our findings highlight the buffering effect of pet ownership on cognitive frailty in older women experiencing social loss. This implies that targeted support for older adults of different sexes who experienced social losses may be effective in preventing cognitive frailty in rural China.

Companion Animals and Adolescent Stress and Adaptive Coping During the COVID-19 Pandemic

The COVID-19 pandemic has resulted in significant social disruptions for youth caused by lockdowns, school closures, and a lack of in-person social interactions. Companion animals are prevalent in US households and may provide a source of emotional support and motivation for youth to engage in adaptive coping behaviors during social challenges. The goals of this study were to assess if dog owners, non-dog pet owners, and non-pet owners differed in stress levels, positive affect, and use of adaptive coping strategies such as increased time outdoors, regular walking, and healthy behaviors. This study used data collected during the COVID-19 pandemic from the Adolescent Brain Cognitive Development^SM (ABCD) Study, a large, nationally representative dataset of American youth. In a cross-sectional sample of 6,069 adolescents, there were significant, but small, relationships between owning a non-dog pet and lower levels of positive affect, and both dog owners and non-dog pet owners reported higher perceived stress compared with non-pet owners. Dog ownership was associated with higher odds of using healthy coping strategies compared with non-pet owners, but this relationship was not significant when controlling for demographic variables. Dog owners reported higher odds of having a walking routine and spending time outdoors compared with non-pet owners. Overall, the results suggest no buffering effect of pet ownership on youth mental wellbeing, but dog ownership is associated with some healthy coping behaviors linked to walking.

Pet ownership, loneliness, and social isolation: a systematic review

PURPOSE

Several publications explored a relationship between pet ownership and lower levels of loneliness and social isolation. However, to the best of our knowledge, no systematic review has yet synthesized the evidence on these associations. Thus, this systematic review aims to evaluate the findings regarding the relations between pet ownership, loneliness, and social isolation.

METHODS

PubMed, CINAHL, and PsycInfo were searched in January 2022. Observational studies relying on appropriate instruments to assess the exposure and the outcome variables were included. Two reviewers independently executed study selection, data extraction, and quality assessment.

RESULTS

n = 24 studies were included. Among adult samples, the studies examining the relationship between pet ownership and social isolation found that owning a pet was associated with lower levels of social isolation. Concerning loneliness, studies that were conducted after the outbreak of COVID-19 mostly showed that pet ownership can contribute to lower levels of loneliness, but did not reveal an overall significant association until then. In turn, the studies that examined child and adolescent samples suggest that pet ownership was related to reduced loneliness before COVID-19. Furthermore, most of the studies did not reveal any differences between dogs, cats, and other kinds of pets regarding their relationship to loneliness and social isolation.

CONCLUSION

All in all, only a part of the studies detected a significant association between pet ownership, loneliness and social isolation. However, the COVID-19 pandemic seemed to strengthen this relationship, so that future research is required to assess the longevity of this potential effect.

Virtual learning experiences in population health nursing course during the COVID-19 pandemic

Aim

To discuss the virtual learning strategies used in population health nursing course during the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID‐19) pandemic.

Background

The School of Nursing faculty in a South Central University in the United States quickly combined innovation with digital resources and transitioned a course in population health during the COVID‐19 pandemic. Nursing faculty were challenged to develop student nursing objectives in assessment, planning, intervention and evaluation of vulnerable populations in the community through a virtual environment.

Reflections of population health nursing clinical education

The experiences of five clinical groups are described, covering adults with disabilities, older people, patients with COVID‐19 and youth populations.

Discussion

The course objectives were met through use of a digital environment. Collaborative interventions were designed and implemented with community stakeholders while maintaining social distancing policies. Successes included increased frequency of communication and learning opportunities for students and the community, and student satisfaction. Barriers to student learning were not related to the digital learning environment, although the older adults required modifications to use electronic devices.

Conclusion

Virtual classrooms are a viable platform to teach population health nursing and to benefit vulnerable populations.

Implications for nursing practice

Virtual learning offers benefits within academia and the community. Technology offers the possibility to improve mental health among older people and enhance knowledge among the general population. Students are better able to connect with clinical faculty and stakeholders through digital platforms.

Implications for nursing policy

Nurses play a vital role in improving population health and can collaborate with community stakeholders to implement innovative and sustainable solutions to nursing education, practices and policy. Digital platforms can enhance the involvement of students through these collaborations during and after the pandemic.

The New Status Quo: Enhancing Access to Human-Animal Interactions to Alleviate Social Isolation & Loneliness in the Time of COVID-19

Simple Summary

The human–animal bond is a powerful agent for reducing feelings of loneliness and social isolation; however, due to the COVID-19 pandemic, our typical avenues for accessing human–animal interaction (HAI) have been drastically impacted. Because the way we interact with animals has shifted during these times of collective struggle, we have ultimately grown in our appreciation of the human–animal bond. This paper will outline the impact of the pandemic on our relationships with animals, while also discussing the ways in which organizations that facilitate HAI have responded to the pandemic. Preparations for post-pandemic re-entry into the community with our animals will be outlined, and suggestions for future research and best practices on this topic will be provided.

Abstract

Access to human–animal interactions (HAI) have been influenced by the COVID-19 pandemic. Service animals that were trained and accustomed to daily access to public places had to adjust to staying at home. Therapy animals and their handlers who previously visited with many of the populations most vulnerable to the virus have had to halt their programming. Professionals who utilize animal-assisted interventions (AAI) have had to develop new strategies for providing goal-oriented care. Even the landscape for companion animals has been significantly altered, leading to behavioral changes and new practices for pet owners and veterinarians. While animals and their human companions face new challenges, our recognition of the power of the human–animal bond (HAB) has grown, as it provides a vital need for connection during this time of isolation. In this paper, we will not only focus on describing the new status quo related to various kinds of animals and the public’s access to HAI, but will also offer suggestions for sharing the human–animal bond during a time in which physical connections are limited. Organizational insights from the service and therapy animal fields will be explored, and findings related to the auspiciousness of new initiatives, such as animal-related engagement (ARE), will be presented. Recommendations for people who share their lives with any of these kinds of animals will be made to ensure both human and animal welfare. Finally, future research and best practices will be suggested, so we can empirically understand and develop these revised offerings to ultimately bring HAI to a wider audience than ever before.

Demographic and contextual factors as moderators of the relationship between pet ownership and health

OBJECTIVE

Companion animals are an important feature of the family system, and human-animal interaction is increasingly being recognized as an important social determinant of health. However, there is a need for more nuanced assessment of not only who owns pets, but how pet ownership is related to various health outcomes, and which sociodemographic and contextual factors moderate these associations.

DESIGN

Secondary analysis of cross-sectional data collected from an online, probability-based panel to generate a nationally representative sample of adults in the United States (n = 1267). Data were analyzed using hierarchical and logistic regression models.

RESULTS

Results suggested that pet owners are systematically different from non-pet owners on a number of key demographic and contextual characteristics, and these differences vary somewhat when looking at dog owners and cat owners. When controlling for individual and family-level covariates, pet ownership was not associated with overall health status or Body Mass Index, but dog ownership was associated with higher levels of physical activity. Pet ownership was associated with higher odds of having an anxiety disorder with gender moderating this relationship, but this association was not present for dog or cat owners, suggesting this relationship is limited to other types of pets. Higher odds of depression were associated with pet ownership (for both dog and cat owners), with employment status significantly moderating the relationship between dog ownership status and depression.

CONCLUSIONS

These findings suggest that pet ownership is a complex and context specific phenomenon. Future research should carefully consider and control for sociodemographic predictors and use measurement and analysis approaches sensitive to the variations in human-animal relationships to fully understand how pets contribute to individual and family health and well-being.

Exploring the Potential Impact of a Virtual Body Scan Meditation Exercise Conducted With Pet Dogs on Recipients and Facilitators

Numerous recent studies have shown that COVID-19 and the accompanying mandated lifestyle changes have resulted in significant negative effects on people's mental health. To meet the increased need for mental health support, while also maintaining physical safety, a variety of telehealth services have been created or expanded. A body scan mindfulness program is an intervention that can easily be modified to be offered virtually. This study was designed to determine if a virtual body scan mindfulness exercise, with participants' holding their dog or a pillow/blanket, could reduce their stress and anxiety as well as that of the facilitators. Significant differences in pre/post-State Anxiety Assessment scores for participants and facilitators were found. These results are discussed within the framework of the human animal bond and the potential of this form of intervention as a useful virtual tool for participants and facilitators alike.

The effects of facility dogs on burnout, job-related well-being, and mental health in paediatric hospital professionals

AIMS AND OBJECTIVES

To examine the effect of working with a facility dog on paediatric healthcare professionals' work-related burnout, job perceptions and mental health.

BACKGROUND

Due to their roles caring for ill children and distressed families, paediatric healthcare professionals often experience substantial depression and burnout. According to prior research, facility dogs in children's hospitals may provide significant benefits to paediatric patients. However, their potential effects on healthcare professionals have been minimally explored.

DESIGN

A cross-sectional design was used in adherence to the STROBE checklist.

METHOD

Among 130 participants, n = 65 paediatric healthcare professionals working with a facility dog were compared to n = 65 control participants matched on age, gender identity, job position category and pet ownership. Hierarchical regression assessed the effect of working with a facility dog on standardised self-report measures of work-related burnout, job perceptions and mental health.

RESULTS

For work-related burnout, working with a facility dog was associated with higher perceived personal accomplishment, but had no effect on emotional exhaustion. With respect to job perceptions, working with a facility dog was associated with more positive job descriptions and lower intention to quit, but not with perceptions about co-workers or workplace social support. Finally, in relation to mental health, working with a facility dog was associated with more positive emotions, better perceived mental health and less depression, but had no effect on anxiety.

CONCLUSION

Findings suggest that facility dogs may be related to several benefits for healthcare professionals' work-related burnout, job perceptions and mental health, but that they do not influence all components of these areas.

RELEVANCE TO CLINICAL PRACTICE

The present research functions to inform personnel in paediatric hospitals with existing facility dog programmes on the scope of their effects, in addition to shaping the expectations of hospitals considering the addition of a facility dog programme.

The Relation Between Pet Ownership, Anxiety, and Depressive Symptoms in Late Life: Propensity Score Matched Analyses

The purpose of this study was to explore the differences in anxiety and depressive symptoms between older adult pet owners and non-pet owners after accounting for various correlates. Research findings on the anxiety-relieving and antidepressant effects of late-life pet ownership are mixed and limited. This may be due in part to various characteristics that impact the likelihood of owning a pet. Propensity score matching was used to pair 169 pet owners with 169 non-pet owners aged 70 to 91 years who participated in the University of Alabama at Birmingham Study of Aging. One set of propensity scores was created using age, sex, race, rurality, marital status, and income, as well as self-reported health, difficulty with activities of daily living, and difficulty with instrumental activities of daily living. A second set of scores was created using age, sex, race, rurality, marital status, and income. Multiple linear regression analyses were then used to explore the relation between pet ownership status and anxiety or depressive symptoms, controlling for the other symptoms. Pet ownership was significantly associated with lower self-reported anxiety symptoms (β = -0.14) but not depressive symptoms (β = -0.03) in the data matched without health variables. When propensity score matching included health variables, pet ownership was related to neither symptoms of anxiety (β = -0.08) nor depression (β = 0.05). These results suggest that owning a pet in later life is related to fewer anxiety symptoms, over and above the impact of depressive symptoms, even after accounting for various demographic and economic covariates. However, general and functional health appear to be critical to this relation, but the direction of this relation could not be determined from our analyses (i.e., it is not clear whether the relation between pet ownership and anxiety symptoms is confounded by, mediates, or is mediated by health). This study is the first large-scale analysis to find a significant relation between pet ownership and fewer anxiety symptoms in older adults.

The Relationship between Dog Ownership, Psychopathological Symptoms and Health-Benefitting Factors in Occupations at Risk for Traumatization

Individuals working in high-risk occupations (e.g., emergency staff) are exposed to high levels of occupational stress including traumatic events. Correspondingly, several studies report high rates of mental health problems among these occupations. Pet ownership has been associated with better mental health. However, to date a study on the association between pet ownership and indicators of mental health in these occupations is missing. The present cross-sectional survey (N = 580) investigated pet ownership, attachment to pets, health-benefitting factors (i.e., sense of coherence, trait-resilience, locus of control) and psychopathological symptoms (i.e., general mental health problems, posttraumatic stress, burnout) in medical staff, police officers, and firefighters. Dog owners and non-dog owners showed comparable levels of psychopathological distress and health-benefitting factors. Compared to cat owners, dog owners demonstrated stronger emotional attachment to their pet. Moreover, a stronger attachment was also linked to higher levels of psychopathological symptoms and lower levels of health-benefitting factors. However, the relationship between attachment to pets and health-benefitting factors could be explained by their overlap with psychopathological symptom levels. Overall, our findings are not in line with the notion that pet ownership generally has a health-benefitting effect. Future studies need to investigate circumstances that modulate positive effects of pet ownership.