Pet relationships and adolescent loneliness during COVD-19

• In Event: Human-animal interaction as a context for supporting youth development

Abstract

The COVID-19 pandemic is an unprecedented historical event with the potential to significantly impact child development. In particular, social isolation and loneliness are a particular concern due to quarantine guidelines and lack of full-time social opportunities in school settings. One potentially important source of emotional support during this challenging period may be a relationship with a pet. Pets provide stable social contact, positive social interactions, and social facilitation, and youth frequently report turning to their pets for emotional support and comfort when distressed (Melson & Schwarz, 1994). Although relatively understudied in youth, there is some initial evidence that adolescents who own pets are less lonely than non-pet owners, and that attachment to animals may be related to a more robust social support network (Black, 2012).

Therefore, this study aimed to explore the relationship between pet ownership and loneliness for adolescents both before and during the COVID-19 pandemic. We used data collected as part of a larger longitudinal study, with Time 1 data collection occurring prior to COVID-19 (n=1034; Age, M=12.69 years, SD=1.21) and Time 2 occurring during COVID-19 (n=360; Age, M=13.01 years, SD=1.03). All analyses presented are regression models controlling for gender, age, and free/reduced price lunch status as a proxy for socioeconomic status. At Time 1, there was no difference between pet owners and non-pet owners on loneliness (p=.099), but dog owners had significantly lower levels of loneliness compared to non-dog owners (p=.015). Dog owners also reported being significantly more attached to their pets at both Time 1 (p<.001) and Time 2 (p<.001) compared to pet owners who did not own a dog.

To assess the relationship between pet ownership status change in loneliness from pre-COVID to during COVID, we used a subsample of youth who participated in both Time 1 and Time 2, and who either had a pet at both time points or neither time point (n=249). Pet owners reported significantly higher changes in loneliness from Time 1 to Time 2 compared to non-pet owners (p=.007). However, there were no significant differences between dog owners and non-dog owners on changes in loneliness from Time 1 to Time 2 (p=.260).

These results do not support our hypothesis of a potential buffering effect of human-animal interaction on loneliness for adolescents during the COVID-19 pandemic. However, the findings do indicate that there are species differences in these relationships, where youth relationships with dogs may involve higher levels of attachment and therefore a more socially supportive relationship that could be related to lower levels of loneliness. This hypothesis is further supported by the higher levels of attachment reported by dog owners compared to youth with other types of pets. These results suggest that further research exploring the complexities of human-animal relationships for youth, and how features of the relationship such as species and relationship quality might contribute to developmental outcomes.

Authors

• Megan Kiely Mueller, Tufts University
  Presenting Author

• Amanda M Richer, Wellesley Centers for Women
  Non-Presenting Author

• Alicia Doyle Lynch, Lynch Research Associates
  Non-Presenting Author

• Linda Charmaraman, Wellesley College
  Non-Presenting Author