Pet ownership may attenuate loneliness among older adult primary care patients who live alone

Abstract

Objectives: Older adults who report feelings of loneliness are at increased risk for a range of negative physical and mental health outcomes, including early mortality. Identifying potential sources of social connectedness, such as pet ownership, could add to the understanding of how to promote health and well-being in older adults. The aim of this study is to describe the association of pet ownership and loneliness.

Method: The current study utilizes cross-sectional survey data from a sample (N = 830) of older adult primary care patients (age ≥ 60 years).

Results: Pet owners were 36% less likely than non-pet owners to report loneliness, in a model controlling for age, living status (i.e., alone vs. not alone), happy mood, and seasonal residency (adjOR = 0.64, 95% CI = 0.41–0.98, p < 0.05). An interaction was found between pet ownership and living status (b = −1.60, p < 0.001) in which living alone and not owning a pet was associated with the greatest odds of reporting feelings of loneliness.

Conclusion: The findings suggest that pet ownership may confer benefits for well-being, including attenuating feelings of loneliness and its related sequelae, among older adults who live alone.

Keywords:

• older adults
• loneliness
• pet ownership
• primary care

Acknowledgements

The authors would like to thank Judy Woodhams, MFA, MS, NCC; Jessica Montalbano, BA; Nicole Driffill, BSN; and Christopher Schatschneider, PhD.

Additional information

Funding

This research was supported in part by grants from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention [grant number U01CE001942]; the National Institute of Mental Health [grant number T32MH20061], [grant number R24MH07610]; the Xerox Foundation.