Beyond providing affection and loyalty, some evidence suggests that companion animals can have a significant impact on their guardians’ physical and mental well-being. However, the relationship between animal guardianship and mental health is a complex one, with conflicting findings and factors to consider.
Some studies highlight the benefits of living with a companion animal later in life, saying that it makes people more happy, less lonely, and that it reduces depressive symptoms. However, there are also findings suggesting that animal guardianship in older adulthood may lead to higher rates of depression and anxiety. Generally, research on guardianship in late life is limited.
This study aimed to explore the differences in anxiety and depressive symptoms between older adults with and without companion animals. They gathered information about 522 U.S. adults aged 70-91 years who were part of a larger study on aging. They used a method called propensity score matching to create two comparable groups: one where animal guardians and non-guardians were matched based on health-related characteristics (e.g., their ability to perform daily activities, their mobility, etc.), and one where they were matched based on demographic information (e.g., sex, marital status, income, race). Afterward, the authors explored whether animal guardians differed from non-guardians in terms of their depression and anxiety levels.
The study found that animal guardianship was linked to lower levels of anxiety when other health characteristics were not taken into account. However, when health was considered, there was no relationship between animal guardianship and anxiety. This suggests that a person’s health status may influence whether they become animal guardians, as well as the amount of anxiety they experience in general.
The study did not find a connection between living with an animal and experiencing depression symptoms. The authors point out that living with a companion animal can lead to frustration and financial responsibilities that might affect how people feel. However, the study didn’t have enough people with depressive symptoms, which may have limited the results.
It is important to note that the research sample was generally healthy, with participants who generally did not experience high levels of anxiety and depression. Therefore, the results may not generalize to older adults with worse mental health concerns.
It appears that the relationship between animal guardianship and anxiety is more complex than it may initially seem, particularly among older adults. While animal advocates often focus on the health benefits of being an animal guardian, it appears that whether someone benefits from guardianship can depend on their health status, as well as their living situation, age, and other demographic characteristics. To preserve the human-animal bond, especially among older adults, it’s important that we find ways of addressing the health needs of both guardians and their animals.
The post Mental Health Among Older Companion Animal Guardians appeared first on Faunalytics.
Some studies highlight the benefits of living with a companion animal later in life, saying that it makes people more happy, less lonely, and that it reduces depressive symptoms. However, there are also findings suggesting that animal guardianship in older adulthood may lead to higher rates of depression and anxiety. Generally, research on guardianship in late life is limited.
This study aimed to explore the differences in anxiety and depressive symptoms between older adults with and without companion animals. They gathered information about 522 U.S. adults aged 70-91 years who were part of a larger study on aging. They used a method called propensity score matching to create two comparable groups: one where animal guardians and non-guardians were matched based on health-related characteristics (e.g., their ability to perform daily activities, their mobility, etc.), and one where they were matched based on demographic information (e.g., sex, marital status, income, race). Afterward, the authors explored whether animal guardians differed from non-guardians in terms of their depression and anxiety levels.
The study found that animal guardianship was linked to lower levels of anxiety when other health characteristics were not taken into account. However, when health was considered, there was no relationship between animal guardianship and anxiety. This suggests that a person’s health status may influence whether they become animal guardians, as well as the amount of anxiety they experience in general.
The study did not find a connection between living with an animal and experiencing depression symptoms. The authors point out that living with a companion animal can lead to frustration and financial responsibilities that might affect how people feel. However, the study didn’t have enough people with depressive symptoms, which may have limited the results.
It is important to note that the research sample was generally healthy, with participants who generally did not experience high levels of anxiety and depression. Therefore, the results may not generalize to older adults with worse mental health concerns.
It appears that the relationship between animal guardianship and anxiety is more complex than it may initially seem, particularly among older adults. While animal advocates often focus on the health benefits of being an animal guardian, it appears that whether someone benefits from guardianship can depend on their health status, as well as their living situation, age, and other demographic characteristics. To preserve the human-animal bond, especially among older adults, it’s important that we find ways of addressing the health needs of both guardians and their animals.
The post Mental Health Among Older Companion Animal Guardians appeared first on Faunalytics.