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Companion Animals and Loneliness: A Systematic Review of Quantitative Studies
Journal Articles | Contributor(s): Gilbey, Andrew, Tani, Kawtar
The aim of this systematic review was to evaluate quantitative studies of companion animals and human loneliness. Five electronic databases (PubMed, Medline, Web of Science, Academic Search Premier, Psychlnfo) were searched for articles on companion animals (including animal-assisted therapies...
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A longitudinal study of the relation between acquiring a dog and loneliness
Journal Articles | Contributor(s): Antonacopoulos, N. M. D.
This longitudinal study examined the effect of acquiring a dog using both an indirect and a direct measure of loneliness. The loneliness levels of 31 adults who acquired a dog and a control group of 35 non-dog guardians (non-dog owners) were assessed at baseline and 8 months. Results revealed...
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Pros and cons of pet ownership in sustaining independence in community-dwelling older adults: a scoping review
Journal Articles | Contributor(s): Obradović, Nataša, Lagueux, Émilie, Michaud, Frédéric, Provencher, Véronique
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The influence of companion animals on the psychological health of older adults
Journal Articles | Contributor(s): May, C.
Companion animals are thought to have an influence on the psychological health of older adults. It has been suggested that interacting with companion animals affects psychological functioning by reducing depression, anxiety, loneliness and stress, and improving social competence, social interest,...
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Social acknowledegments for children with disabilities: effects of service dogs
Journal Articles | Contributor(s): Mader, B., Hart, L. A., Bergin, B.
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An examination of the potential role of pet ownership, human social support and pet attachment in the psychological health of individuals living alone
Journal Articles | Contributor(s): Duvall Antonacopoulos, N. M., Pychyl, T. A.
While researchers have examined the relationship between pet ownership and psychological health among individuals in the general population, the few studies that have examined the possible psychological health benefits of pet ownership for individuals living alone have primarily been conducted...
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Pet ownership, type of pet and socio-emotional development of school children
Journal Articles | Contributor(s): Vidovic, V. V., Stetic, V. V., Bratko, D.
The current study was designed to compare the socio-emotional characteristics of school children pet owners and children without pets and to examine whether the type of pet is a variable which can differentiate the socio-emotional development of their owners. The subjects, 425 girls and 401 boys,...
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Pet ownership in childhood and socio-emotional characteristics, work values and professional choices in early adulthood
Journal Articles | Contributor(s): Vizek-Vidovic, V., Arambasic, L., Kerestes, G., Kuterovac-Jagodic, G., Vlahovic-Stetic, V.
The main goal of this study, partly retrospective in character, was to explore if and how pet ownership in childhood is related to several indicators of socio-emotional development, as well as work values and professional choices in early adulthood. The sample consisted of 356 students (200...
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Friends and pets as companions: strategies for coping with loneliness among homeless youth
Journal Articles | Contributor(s): Rew, L.
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TigerPlace: training veterinarians about animal companionship for the elderly
Journal Articles | Contributor(s): Johnson, R. A., Rantz, M. J., McKenney, C. A., Cline, K. M. C.
Students learn more effectively when they are actively engaged in the learning process. Therefore, case studies have become increasingly popular as a way to teach students about a representative subject. This article discusses the benefits of case studies, with a primary focus on how case studies...
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Companion cats and the social support systems of men with AIDS
Journal Articles | Contributor(s): Castelli, P., Hart, L. A., Zasloff, R. L.
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Children's Attribution of Needs and Feelings to Virtual Pets: Does Gender Matter?
Conference Papers | Contributor(s): Osborn, Elizabeth
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Loneliness and pet ownership among single women
Journal Articles | Contributor(s): Zasloff, R. Lee, Kidd, Aline H.
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Potential benefits of companion animals for self-care children
Journal Articles | Contributor(s): Heath, D. Terri, McKenry, Patrick C.
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Pet ownership and socio-emotion of school children
Journal Articles | Contributor(s): Zhou, Xia, Zheng, Ri-Chang, Fu, Na
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People, pets and care homes: a story of ambivalence
Journal Articles | Contributor(s): Smith, Randall, Johnson, Julia, Rolph, Sheena
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Dogs, cats and Catholic parochial clergy in England and Wales: Exploring the relationship between companion animals and work-related psychological health
Journal Articles | Contributor(s): Francis, Leslie J., Turton, Douglas W., Louden, Stephen H.
This study examines the theory that companion animals may contribute to the work-related psychological health of Catholic parochial clergy in England and Wales as a possible antidote to the personal and social loneliness of single celibate men. Data were provided by a sample of 1,482 Catholic...
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Friends with benefits: on the positive consequences of pet ownership
Journal Articles | Contributor(s): McConnell, A. R., Brown, C. M., Shoda, T. M., Stayton, L. E., Martin, C. E.
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About Cats and Dogs ... Reconsidering the Relationship Between Pet Ownership and Health Related Outcomes in Community-Dwelling Elderly
Journal Articles | Contributor(s): Rijken, Mieke, Beek, Sandra
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Pet Ownership and Older Women: The Relationships Among Loneliness, Pet Attachment Support, Human Social Support, and Depressed Mood
Journal Articles | Contributor(s): Krause-Parello, Cheryl A.
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The effects of animal-assisted therapy on loneliness in an elderly population in long-term care facilities
Theses | Contributor(s): Banks, Marian Ribeiro
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Potential benefits of canine companionship for military veterans with posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD)
Journal Articles | Contributor(s): Stern, S. L., Donahue, D. A., Allison, S., Hatch, J. P., Lancaster, C. L., Benson, T. A., Johnson, A. L., Jeffreys, M. D., Pride, D., Moreno, C., Peterson, A. L.
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Situational factors related to loneliness and loss over time among older pet owners
Journal Articles | Contributor(s): Krause-Parello, C. A., Gulick, E. E.
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Pet ownership may attenuate loneliness among older adult primary care patients who live alone
Journal Articles | Contributor(s): Stanley, I. H., Conwell, Y., Bowen, C., Van Orden, K. A.
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...
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Pet ownership among homeless youth: Associations with mental health, service utilization and housing status
Journal Articles | Contributor(s): Rhoades, Harmony, Winetrobe, Hailey, Rice, Eric
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An Examination of the Possible Benefits for Well-Being Arising from the Social Interactions that Occur while Dog Walking
Journal Articles | Contributor(s): Antonacopoulos, N. M. D., Pychyl, T. A.
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Does owning a pet protect older people against loneliness?
Journal Articles | Contributor(s): Pikhartova, J., Bowling, A., Victor, C.
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Effect of animal-assisted therapy on the psychological and functional status of elderly populations and patients with psychiatric disorders: a meta-analysis
Journal Articles | Contributor(s): Virués-Ortega, Javier, Pastor-Barriuso, Roberto, Castellote, Juan M., Población, Adolfo, de Pedro-Cuesta, Jesús
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A Pilot Study Assessing the Effectiveness of an Animal-Assisted Outreach Program
Journal Articles | Contributor(s): Stewart, Leslie A., Dispenza, Franco, Parker, Lindy, Chang, Catherine Y., Cunnien, Taffey
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The Pet Factor - Companion Animals as a Conduit for Getting to Know People, Friendship Formation and Social Support
Journal Articles | Contributor(s): Lisa Wood, Karen Martin, Hayley Christian, Andrea Nathan, Claire Lauritsen, Steve Houghton, Ichiro Kawachi, Sandra McCune
Background While companion animals have been previously identified as a direct source of companionship and support to their owners, their role as a catalyst for friendship formation or social support networks among humans has received little attention. This study investigated the indirect...
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Pet ownership and physical health
Journal Articles | Contributor(s): Matchock, R. L.
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Recovery from severe mental illness: How feline companions facilitate the process of healing
Theses | Contributor(s): Nelson, Heather Lindsey Howe
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The animal-human bond: Health and wellness
Book Sections | Contributor(s): Friedmann, Erika, Son, Heesook, Saleem, Mudasir, Fine, Aubrey H.
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Fostering the human-animal bond for older adults: Challenges and opportunities
Journal Articles | Contributor(s): Anderson, Keith A., Lord, Linda K., Hill, Lawrence N., McCune, Sandra
Older adults are at high risk for physical illness and emotional disorders, particularly those of lower socioeconomic status. Pet ownership has the potential to reduce the impact of these problems by providing companionship, reducing social isolation, and enhancing physical activity and...
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Thinking about cats or dogs provides relief from social rejection
Journal Articles | Contributor(s): Brown, C. M., Hengy, S. M., McConnell, A. R.
Past research shows that anthropomorphizing animals and non-human objects is correlated with unmet social needs (e.g., loneliness), and momentary feelings of social rejection can be soothed by thinking about a pet or by having a dog nearby. The current work tested whether thinking of names for...
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Human–Animal Interaction and Older Adults: An Overview
Journal Articles | Contributor(s): Nancy R. Gee, Megan K. Mueller, Angela L. Curl
Both pet ownership and animal-assisted therapy are becoming increasingly popular in the United States, and the science of human–animal interaction (HAI) seeks to explore how these relationships with animals can impact health and well-being. In particular, one burgeoning area of research is...
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Companion animals and child/adolescent development: a systematic review of the evidence
Journal Articles | Contributor(s): Purewal, R., R. Christley, K. Kordas, C. Joinson, K. Meints, N. Gee, C. Westgarth
Childhood and adolescence are important developmental phases which influence health and well-being across the life span. Social relationships are fundamental to child and adolescent development; yet studies have been limited to children's relationships with other humans. This paper provides...
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Can mental health interventions change social networks? A systematic review
Journal Articles | Contributor(s): Kimberly Anderson, Neelam Laxhman, Stefan Priebe
Background Social networks of patients with psychosis can provide social support, and improve health and social outcomes, including quality of life. However, patients with psychosis often live rather isolated with very limited social networks. Evidence for interventions targeting symptoms or...
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Using Interactions Between Children and Companion Animals to Build Skills in Self-Regulation and Emotion Regulation
Book Sections | Contributor(s): Wanda Boyer
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Contributory Role of Pet Attitude, Attachment Styles, Social Support and Loneliness in Well Being of Young Adults
Journal Articles | Contributor(s): Tapasri Das, Anindita Chaudhuri
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Dog Ownership, Attachment and Overall Wellbeing among Young Adults
Theses | Contributor(s): Kasiani Michalopoulos
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Social-emotional adjustment and pet ownership among adolescents with autism spectrum disorder
Journal Articles | Contributor(s): Amanda Ward, Nicole Arola, Amy Bohnert, Rebecca Lieb
Adolescents with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) often experience poor social-emotional adjustment and interactions with peers, but taking care of a family pet may serve as a buffer. This study utilized 81 parent-adolescent dyads to examine how dimensions of pet ownership (responsibility,...
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"Calm . . . Satisfied . . . Comforting": The Experience and Meaning of Rabbit-Assisted Activities for Older Adults
Journal Articles | Contributor(s): Natalie Pitheckoff, Sara J. McLaughlin, Kate de Medeiros
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Psychological Health Benefits of Companion Animals Following a Social Loss
Journal Articles | Contributor(s): Carr, D. C., Taylor, M. G., Gee, N. R., Sachs-Ericsson, N.
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Biopsychosocial Factors and Cognitive Function in Cat Ownership and Attachment in Community-dwelling Older Adults
Journal Articles | Contributor(s): Branson, Sandra M., Boss, Lisa, Padhye, Nikhil S., Gee, Nancy R., Trötscher, Thea T.
Few studies consider the health benefits of pet ownership from a biopsychosocial perspective, and a paucity of studies investigate cat ownership. The current study was designed to determine if psychosocial factors (stress, loneliness, and depression), biological levels of stress and...
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Pet Ownership and Human–Animal Interaction in an Aging Population: Rewards and Challenges
Journal Articles | Contributor(s): Enders-Slegers, Marie-José, Hediger, Karin
Older adults in most developed countries can now expect to live nearly 80 years without significant disability. To maximize the quality of the years after retirement, societies, governments, and organizations are seeking strategies to help older adults maintain their mental and physical health,...
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A Systematic Review of Research on Pet Ownership and Animal Interactions among Older Adults
Journal Articles | Contributor(s): Gee, Nancy R., Mueller, Megan K.
Research on the impact of companion animals in the lives of older adults is considered from two perspectives: pet ownership and in animal-assisted interventions (AAI). This paper first presents a discussion of potential theoretical explanations of the impact of animals on human health and...
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Loneliness, Depression, and Physical Activity in Older Adults: The Therapeutic Role of Human–Animal Interactions
Journal Articles | Contributor(s): Krause-Parello, Cheryl A., Gulick, Elise E., Basin, Basilia
The global population of older persons is projected in 2050 to reach approximately 2.1 billion. As people age, feelings of loneliness, depression, and physical inactivity often occur due to a multitude of reasons. These feelings may manifest and cause adverse health outcomes. With the predicted...
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Introduction to the Themed Issue on Human–Animal Interaction and Healthy Human Aging
Journal Articles | Contributor(s): Resnick, Barbara, McCune, Sandra
In 2016, the Gerontological Society of America (GSA) developed a research focus on the benefits and potential risks associated with pets among older adults. With the goal of developing a roadmap for human–animal interaction (HAI) research in older people residing in both the community and...
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Why Did I Share My Life With Glucio? A Life Course Approach to Explaining Pet Ownership Motivations in Late Adulthood
Journal Articles | Contributor(s): Uribe, Ana Cecilia Reyes
The main purpose of this study was to gain insight into the motivations for pet ownership in late adulthood using a life course approach. A qualitative research methodology based on deductive thematic analysis was applied to examine the accounts given by 21 pet owners living in Mexico: 14 women...
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Pet Ownership Patterns and Successful Aging Outcomes in Community Dwelling Older Adults
Journal Articles | Contributor(s): Friedmann, E., Gee, N. R., Simonsick, E. M., Studenski, S., Resnick, B., Barr, E., Kitner-Triolo, M., Hackney, A.
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Associations of pet ownership with biomarkers of ageing: population based cohort study
Journal Articles | Contributor(s): G David Batty, Paola Zaninotto, Richard G Watt, Steven Bell
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Neighborhood Engagement, Dogs, and Life Satisfaction in Older Adulthood
Journal Articles | Contributor(s): Angela L Curl, Jessica Bibbo, Rebecca A Johnson
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Pet ownership and its influence on mental health in older adults
Journal Articles | Contributor(s): Genieve Zhe Hui Gan, Anne-Marie Hill, Polly Yeung, Sharon Keesing, Julie Anne Netto
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Use of dog as a means of activation of seniors and influence on various aspects of aging
Conference Papers | Contributor(s): K Machova, J Varekova, M Riha
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What Are the Benefits of Pet Ownership and Care Among People With Mild-to-Moderate Dementia? Findings From the IDEAL programme
Journal Articles | Contributor(s): Carol Opdebeeck, Michael A. Katsaris, Anthony Martyr, Ruth A. Lamont, James A. Pickett, Isla Rippon, Jeanette M. Thom, Christina Victor, Linda Clare
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Loneliness and Pet Ownership in Older Adults
Journal Articles | Contributor(s): Destiny Rodriguez, Dahlia Castillo, Ja'Nice Wyatt, Valeria Alvarez
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Differences in Self-Esteem Between Cat Owners, Dog Owners, and Individuals Without Pets
Journal Articles | Contributor(s): Claudia Schulz, Hans-Helmut König, André Hajek
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Pet ownership and symptoms of depression: A prospective study of older adults
Journal Articles | Contributor(s): Christopher Sharpley, Nicola Veronese, Lee Smith, Guillermo F. López-Sánchez, Vicki Bitsika, Jacopo Demurtas, Stefano Celotto, Vania Noventa, Pinar Soysal, Ahmet Turan Isik, Igor Grabovac, Sarah E. Jackson
Background: This paper aims to examine associations between pet ownership and symptoms of depression in a large, population-based sample of older adults. Specifically, we tested whether: (i) people who report more depressive symptoms are more likely to own a pet; (ii) pet ownership protects...
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Physical, social, and psychological characteristics of community-dwelling elderly Japanese dog and cat owners
Journal Articles | Contributor(s): Yu Taniguchi, Satoshi Seino, Mariko Nishi, Yui Tomine, Izumi Tanaka, Yuri Yokoyama, Hidenori Amano, Akihiko Kitamura, Shoji Shinkai
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Reducing loneliness and improving well-being among older adults with animatronic pets
Journal Articles | Contributor(s): Rifky Tkatch, Lizi Wu, Stephanie MacLeod, Rachel Ungar, Laurie Albright, Daniel Russell, James Murphy, James Schaeffer, Charlotte S. Yeh
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Pets, Social Participation, and Aging-in-Place: Findings from the Canadian Longitudinal Study on Aging
Journal Articles | Contributor(s): Ann M. Toohey, Jennifer A. Hewson, Cindy L. Adams, Melanie J. Rock
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The Role of Pet Ownership and Attachment in Older Adults
Journal Articles | Contributor(s): Deidre Watt, Nancy A. Pachana
