Depression, loneliness, and pet attachment in homebound older adult cat and dog owners
Background: Companion animals may reduce depression and loneliness in socially isolated homebound older adults. However, whether owning a cat or dog is more beneficial in this population remains unknown. Materials and Methods: Pet attachment and the levels of depressive symptoms and loneliness were...
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| Language: | English |
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MDPI AG
2017-04-01
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| Series: | Journal of Mind and Medical Sciences |
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| Online Access: | http://scholar.valpo.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1057&context=jmms |
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| author | Sandy M. Branson Lisa Boss Stanley Cron Dennis C. Turner |
| author_facet | Sandy M. Branson Lisa Boss Stanley Cron Dennis C. Turner |
| author_sort | Sandy M. Branson |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Background: Companion animals may reduce depression and loneliness in socially isolated homebound older adults. However, whether owning a cat or dog is more beneficial in this population remains unknown.
Materials and Methods: Pet attachment and the levels of depressive symptoms and loneliness were examined in 39 homebound older adults who exclusively owned a cat(s) or a
dog(s). Cat owners (n = 12) and dog owners (n=27) were assessed for depressive symptoms (Geriatric Depression Scale-Short Form), loneliness (R-UCLA Loneliness Scale), and
attachment to pets (Likert scale).
Results: Cat owners reported significantly lower levels of depressive symptoms than dog owners (t= 2.12; p = 0.04). There were no significant differences between cat owners and dog owners in regards to levels of loneliness (t = -0.83; p = 0.41). Both cat owners and dog owners reported a high level of attachment to pets (Median=10 of 10).
Conclusions: Although this study provides preliminary evidence that owning a cat to which one is attached is associated with lower levels of depressive symptoms than owning a dog to which one is attached in homebound older adults, the findings should be replicated with longitudinal studies. Findings from such studies may assist homebound older adults in selecting either a cat or dog as a companion pet. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-9eccff8f341b413bad5ce545e990c65c |
| institution | DOAJ |
| issn | 2392-7674 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2017-04-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Journal of Mind and Medical Sciences |
| spelling | doaj-art-9eccff8f341b413bad5ce545e990c65c2025-08-20T03:09:52ZengMDPI AGJournal of Mind and Medical Sciences2392-76742017-04-0141384810.22543/7674.41.P3848Depression, loneliness, and pet attachment in homebound older adult cat and dog ownersSandy M. Branson0Lisa Boss1Stanley Cron2Dennis C. Turner3UTHealth School of Nursing, Department of Nursing SystemsUTHealth School of Nursing, Department of Nursing SystemsUTHealth School of Nursing, Department of Nursing SystemsInstitute for Applied Ethology and Animal PsychologyBackground: Companion animals may reduce depression and loneliness in socially isolated homebound older adults. However, whether owning a cat or dog is more beneficial in this population remains unknown. Materials and Methods: Pet attachment and the levels of depressive symptoms and loneliness were examined in 39 homebound older adults who exclusively owned a cat(s) or a dog(s). Cat owners (n = 12) and dog owners (n=27) were assessed for depressive symptoms (Geriatric Depression Scale-Short Form), loneliness (R-UCLA Loneliness Scale), and attachment to pets (Likert scale). Results: Cat owners reported significantly lower levels of depressive symptoms than dog owners (t= 2.12; p = 0.04). There were no significant differences between cat owners and dog owners in regards to levels of loneliness (t = -0.83; p = 0.41). Both cat owners and dog owners reported a high level of attachment to pets (Median=10 of 10). Conclusions: Although this study provides preliminary evidence that owning a cat to which one is attached is associated with lower levels of depressive symptoms than owning a dog to which one is attached in homebound older adults, the findings should be replicated with longitudinal studies. Findings from such studies may assist homebound older adults in selecting either a cat or dog as a companion pet.http://scholar.valpo.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1057&context=jmmsolder adultscatdepressiondoglonelinesspet attachment |
| spellingShingle | Sandy M. Branson Lisa Boss Stanley Cron Dennis C. Turner Depression, loneliness, and pet attachment in homebound older adult cat and dog owners Journal of Mind and Medical Sciences older adults cat depression dog loneliness pet attachment |
| title | Depression, loneliness, and pet attachment in homebound older adult cat and dog owners |
| title_full | Depression, loneliness, and pet attachment in homebound older adult cat and dog owners |
| title_fullStr | Depression, loneliness, and pet attachment in homebound older adult cat and dog owners |
| title_full_unstemmed | Depression, loneliness, and pet attachment in homebound older adult cat and dog owners |
| title_short | Depression, loneliness, and pet attachment in homebound older adult cat and dog owners |
| title_sort | depression loneliness and pet attachment in homebound older adult cat and dog owners |
| topic | older adults cat depression dog loneliness pet attachment |
| url | http://scholar.valpo.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1057&context=jmms |
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