Quality of the Human–Animal Bond and Mental Wellbeing During a COVID-19 Lockdown

Figures & data

Table 1. The number and percentage of participants (in total [n = 249] and broken down by companion animal owners [n = 146] and non-owners [n = 103]) according to demographic variables.

Demographic factor	Total sample n (%)	Companion animal owners n (%)	Non-owners n (%)
Gender
Male	54 (21.7)	25 (17.1)	29 (28.2)
Female	195 (78.3)	121 (82.9)	74 (71.8)
Age (in years)
18–29	132 (53.0)	72 (49.3)	60 (58.3)
30–39	34 (13.7)	28 (19.2)	6 (5.8)
40–49	37 (14.9)	22 (15.1)	15 (14.6)
50–59	35 (14.1)	20 (13.7)	15 (14.6)
60+	11 (4.4)	4 (2.7)	7 (6.8)
Residential status
Living alone	13 (5.2)	4 (2.7)	9 (8.7)
Living with 1 other person	50 (20.1)	24 (16.4)	26 (25.2)
Living with 2 other people	61 (24.5)	32 (21.9)	29 (28.2)
Living with 3 other people	47 (26.9)	53 (36.3)	14 (13.6)
Living with 4 + other people	58 (23.3)	33 (22.6)	25 (24.3)
Frequency of interactions
Every day	43 (17.3)	29 (19.9)	14 (13.6)
A few times a week	79 (31.7)	41 (28.1)	38 (36.9)
Once a week	82 (32.9)	50 (34.2)	32 (31.1)
Never	45 (18.1)	26 (17.8)	19 (18.4)
Parental status
Parent of child < 18	72 (28.9)	54 (37.0)	18 (17.5)
Not parent of child < 18	177 (71.1)	92 (63.0)	85 (82.5)
Animal ownership status
Companion animal owner	146 (58.6)
Non-owner	103 (41.4)
Type of companion animal
Dog	91 (62.3)
Cat	55 (37.7)

Table 2. Results of the linear regression analysis for Lexington Attachment to Pets Scale scores involving predictor variables of participant gender, age, parental status, residential status, frequency of social interactions, and type of companion animal owned (n = 145).

Predictor	B	95% CI	t	p
Gender	8.18	4.43, 1.92	4.32	< 0.001
Age	−1.04	−2.30, 0.22	−1.63	0.10
Parental status	4.79	1.62, 7.96	3.00	0.003
Residential status	0.59	−0.86, 2.03	0.80	0.42
Social interaction	−1.18	−2.58, 0.22	−1.67	0.10
Type of animal	−5.07	−8.02, −2.11	−3.39	0.001

Table 3. Results of the linear regression analysis for depression (PHQ) scores involving predictor variables of participant gender, age, parental status, residential status, frequency of social interactions, and companion animal ownership status (n = 249).

Predictor	B	95% CI	t	p
Gender	3.03	0.90, 5.19	2.77	0.006
Age	−1.28	−2.01, −0.54	−3.42	0.001
Parental status	−2.29	−4.47, 0.13	−2.08	0.04
Residential status	−0.11	−0.95, 0.72	−0.27	0.79
Social interaction	1.50	0.61, 2.40	3.30	0.001
Animal ownership	−0.42	−2.25, 1.41	−0.45	0.65

Table 4. Results of the linear regression analysis for depression (PHQ) scores for pet owners involving predictor variables of gender, age, residential status, parental status, frequency of social interactions, type of companion animal owned, and LAPS scores (n = 145).

Predictor	B	95% CI	t	p
Gender	−0.85	−3.84, 2.14	−0.56	0.57
Age	−0.16	−1.11, 0.79	−0.33	0.74
Parental status	−3.36	−5.81, −0.91	−2.71	0.008
Residential status	−0.26	−1.35, 0.82	−0.48	0.63
Social interaction	2.57	1.51, 3.63	4.79	< 0.001
Type of animal	1.98	−0.32, 4.29	1.70	0.09
LAPS score	0.40	0.28, 0.53	6.36	< 0.001

Table 5. Results of the linear regression analysis for positive experience (SPANE) scores involving predictor variables of participant gender, age, residential status, parental status, frequency of social interactions, and companion animal ownership status (n = 249).

Predictor	B	95% CI	t	p
Gender	−2.34	−3.88, −0.80	−2.99	0.003
Age	0.61	0.08, 1.13	2.28	0.02
Parental status	−0.09	−1.64, 1.45	−0.12	0.90
Residential status	−0.18	−0.78, 0.41	−0.61	0.54
Social interaction	−1.17	−1.81, −0.53	−3.60	< 0.001
Animal ownership	0.57	−0.73, 1.87	0.86	0.39

Table 6. Results of the linear regression analysis for positive experience (SPANE) scores for pet owners involving predictor variables of gender, age, residential status, parental status, frequency of social interactions, type of companion animal owned, and LAPS scores (n = 145).

Predictor	B	95% CI	t	p
Gender	−0.76	−3.09, 1.57	−0.64	0.52
Age	−0.05	−0.80, 0.69	−0.14	0.89
Parental status	0.04	−1.87, 1.95	0.04	0.97
Residential status	−0.59	−1.43, 0.26	−1.37	0.17
Social interaction	−1.69	−2.51, 0.86	−4.04	< 0.001
Type of animal	−0.76	−2.55, 1.04	−0.83	0.41
LAPS score	−0.16	−0.26, 0.07	−3.32	0.001

Table 7. Results of the linear regression analysis for loneliness (UCLA-3 item) scores involving predictor variables of participant gender, age, parental status, residential status, frequency of social interactions, and companion animal ownership status (n = 249).

Predictor	B	95% CI	t	p
Gender	0.64	0.08, 1.20	2.25	0.03
Age	−0.29	−0.48, −0.10	−2.99	0.003
Parental status	−0.10	−0.66, 0.46	−0.35	0.72
Residential status	−0.02	−0.22, 0.21	−0.02	0.98
Social interaction	0.38	0.15, 0.61	3.20	0.002
Animal ownership	−0.11	−0.59, 0.37	−0.47	0.64

Table 8. Results of the linear regression analysis for loneliness (UCLA-3 item) scores for pet owners involving predictor variables of gender, age, residential status, parental status, frequency of social interactions, type of companion animal owned, and LAPS scores (n = 145).

Predictor	B	95% CI	t	p
Gender	−0.13	−0.94, 0.68	−0.32	0.75
Age	−0.12	−0.38, 0.14	−0.92	0.36
Parental status	−0.37	−1.03, 0.30	−1.09	0.28
Residential status	0.02	−0.27, 0.32	0.17	0.87
Social interaction	0.60	0.31, 0.88	4.10	< 0.001
Type of animal	0.33	−0.30, 0.95	1.04	0.30
LAPS score	0.08	0.04, 0.11	4.39	< 0.001

Table 9. Results of the linear regression analysis for stress (PSS) scores involving predictor variables of participant gender, age, parental status, residential status, frequency of social interactions, and companion animal ownership status (n = 249).

Predictor	B	95% CI	t	p
Gender	0.10	−0.46, 0.66	0.34	0.73
Age	−0.07	−0.26, 0.12	−0.68	0.49
Parental status	−0.40	−0.97, 0.16	−1.41	0.16
Residential status	0.02	−0.20, 0.24	0.19	0.85
Social interaction	0.20	−0.04, 0.43	1.66	0.10
Animal ownership	0.01	−0.46, 0.49	0.05	0.96

Table 10. Results of the linear regression analysis for stress (PSS) scores for pet owners involving predictor variables of gender, age, residential status, parental status, frequency of social interactions, type of companion animal owned, and LAPS scores (n = 145).

Predictor	B	95% CI	t	p
Gender	−0.54	−1.36, 0.28	−1.30	0.19
Age	0.18	−0.08, 0.44	1.33	0.18
Parental status	−0.48	−1.15, 0.18	−1.44	0.15
Residential status	0.17	−0.13, 0.46	0.10	0.27
Social interaction	0.38	0.09, 0.67	2.57	0.01
Type of animal	0.08	−0.54, 0.71	0.26	0.79
LAPS score	0.03	−0.01, 0.06	1.58	0.12