Psychological Health Benefits of Companion Animals Following a Social Loss

• In Event: 4266 - Section on Aging and the Life Course Refereed Roundtables
  In Refereed Roundtable 100min: 8. Social and Familial Support

Abstract

Background and Objectives: In later life, the loss of a spouse or child is common, and can lead to elevated depressive symptoms and loneliness. Research suggests that companion animals may be beneficial for psychological health, but limited research has explored whether companion animals can buffer negative consequences of social losses.
Research Design and Methods: This study uses data drawn from the Health and Retirement Study (HRS) to examine changes in depressive symptoms and loneliness in relation to a social loss among those with and without a companion animal. Inverse-probability weighted regression was used to adjust for selection factors and isolate effects of pet ownership on changes in psychological health.
Results: Regardless of pet ownership, experiencing the loss of a spouse or child was associated with a decline in psychological health. However, facing a social loss without a pet was related to more pronounced increases in depressive symptoms relative to those with a pet (2.36 versus 1.09, respectively). Similarly, relative to those who did not experience a loss, non-owners who experienced a loss reported significantly greater increases loneliness, but pet owners did not experience significantly greater increases in loneliness.
Discussion and Implications: In later life, pet ownership may provide a buffering effect against the detrimental consequences of major social losses on psychological health. Future research on the therapeutic effects of pet ownership, as well as pet therapy, during other major life stage transitions is needed to help isolate potential mechanisms driving the benefits of human animal interactions.

Authors

• Dawn Celeste Carr, Florida State University

• Miles G. Taylor, Florida State University

• Natalie Sachs-Ericsson, Florida State University

• Nancy Gee, Fredonia State University of New York