Examining evidence for a relationship between human-animal interactions and common mental disorders during the COVID-19 pandemic: a systematic literature review

Frontiers in Health Services, Год журнала: 2024, Номер 4

Опубликована: Фев. 7, 2024

Introduction COVID-19 lockdowns, shelter in place, closures of transportation and mental health services, dearth providers created new barriers to obtaining support for needs at a time increased rates anxiety depression. During the pandemic, record number households owned adopted pets, opening potential avenue investigate relationship between pets health. This systematic literature review examined question: What is evidence human-animal interaction and/or animal ownership common disorders among adults who interacted with compared did not during pandemic? Methods To address this question, four databases were searched: Medline, PsycINFO, Web Science, SCOPUS peer-reviewed published 2020 July 2023. Of 1,746 articles identified by searches, 21 studies included review. Results suggest that there exists strong pet attachment interaction, though directionality was investigated studies. There an association having stronger lower feelings depression other symptoms. also higher levels attachment. Conclusion Understanding may be helpful clinicians assessing clients. Clinicians glean additional insight about stressors, risk factors, social supports, lifestyle clients based on client's status as owner. Future research could further explore direction causal disorders; inform how HAI can used struggles.

Язык: Английский

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Does Pet Attachment Affect Men’s Psychological Well-Being, Loneliness, and Perceived Social Support? A Cross-Sectional Analysis During the COVID-19 Crisis

Psychiatry International, Год журнала: 2025, Номер 6(1), С. 32 - 32

Опубликована: Март 12, 2025

The COVID-19 pandemic has presented significant challenges, including financial strains and mental health issues like depression loneliness. Human–animal interaction (HAI) offers a potential buffer, as pet ownership been linked to benefits such improved psychological well-being, increased perceived social support, reduced Furthermore, attachment pets appears moderate these effects, with more attached owners experiencing greater benefits. However, most research focused on female samples, leaving gap in understanding HAI among men. This study aimed examine the relationship between loneliness, support Greek male ages 18 45. Between January March 2021, sample of 87 participants completed demographics form four self-reported questionnaires: LAPS for attachment, WHO-5 three-item loneliness scale, MSPSS-Pets support. Hierarchical multiple regressions indicated that predicted but showed no association well-being or Age emerged predictor older men reporting higher levels, predictors were found. These findings suggest companion animals may provide emotional not alleviate broader burdens intensified during crises pandemic.

Язык: Английский

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Similarities and differences between dog–human and human–human relationships

Scientific Reports, Год журнала: 2025, Номер 15(1)

Опубликована: Апрель 21, 2025

Язык: Английский

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The effects of service dogs for children with autism spectrum disorder and their caregivers: a cross-sectional study

Frontiers in Psychiatry, Год журнала: 2024, Номер 15

Опубликована: Фев. 23, 2024

Introduction Service dogs are an increasingly popular complementary intervention for children with autism spectrum disorder. However, despite increasing demand, there remains a lack of empirical research on their potential benefits. The purpose this study was to evaluate the effects service and caregivers. Methods A total N = 75 families were recruited from non-profit dog provider in US, including n 39 previously placed 36 engaging usual care while waitlist. Caregivers completed online survey containing both self- proxy-report standardized measures child, caregiver, family functioning. Linear regressions modeled relationship between presence outcomes, controlling relevant child caregiver covariates. Results indicated that having associated significantly better sleep behaviors, initiation duration less anxiety/co-sleeping medium effect sizes. not related withdrawal, negative emotionality, emotional self-control, hyperactivity, irritability, lethargy small For caregivers, strain, disturbance, depression, or impact child’s condition functioning Supplemental matched case-control analyses confirmed these findings. Discussion In conclusion, found positively behaviors among autism, but may uniformly relate other areas wellbeing. Prospective longitudinal designs, larger sample sizes able detect effects, studies measure using objective methods needed build

Язык: Английский

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Investigating the Reasons behind Companion Animal Relinquishment: A Systematic Content Analysis of Shelter Records for Cats and Dogs, 2018–2023

Animals, Год журнала: 2024, Номер 14(17), С. 2606 - 2606

Опубликована: Сен. 7, 2024

The relinquishment of companion animals to shelters presents significant challenges for animal welfare organizations and has substantial implications the well-being both their owners. This study aims investigate reasons voluntarily relinquishing shelters, examine species-specific differences (cats dogs), compare initial relinquishments returns (re-relinquishments or readmissions), identify potential changes over a 6-year period framing onset COVID-19 pandemic. A retrospective analysis owner records from an open admission shelter in US was conducted using content analysis, novel approach this area research. total 13 reason categories were identified, as well 9 separate specific behavioral issues. Among 2836 randomly selected records, most frequent cited Behavior Issues (28%), Housing/Moving (18%), Unable Care (16%), Too Many Pets (10%), Financial (6%), Owner Allergies (5%). common reported Aggression (32% surrenders), Social Conflict Soiling (13%). However, observed pattern based on statistical analyses species, type relinquishment, year. Regarding temporal trends, not found have changed significantly since pandemic, but relative frequency category increased 2022 2023. Collectively, these findings partially replicate those research spanning past several decades that employed less systematic methodology can further be used help understand primary drivers relinquishments.

Язык: Английский

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Human Preferences for Dogs and Cats in China: The Current Situation and Influencing Factors of Watching Online Videos and Pet Ownership

Animals, Год журнала: 2024, Номер 14(23), С. 3458 - 3458

Опубликована: Ноя. 29, 2024

Dogs and cats have become the most important successful pets through long-term domestication. People keep them for various reasons, such as their functional roles or physical psychological support. However, why humans are so attached to dogs remains unclear. A comprehensive understanding of current state human preferences potential influential factors behind it is required. Here, we investigate this question using two independent online datasets anonymous questionnaires in China. We find that dog cat videos relatively higher than other interests, video plays ranking among top three out fifteen interests. also genetic variations, gender, age, economic development levels notably influence cats. Specifically, ownership significantly associated with parents’ pet (Spearman’s rank correlation coefficient 0.43, 95% CI: 0.38–0.47), primary reason gain emotional Further analysis finds women, young people, those incomes more likely prefer videos. Our study provides insights into establishes a foundation developing co-evolutionary models.

Язык: Английский

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The Well-Being of Companion Animal Caregivers and Their Companion Animals during the COVID-19 Pandemic: Scoping Review

Animals, Год журнала: 2023, Номер 13(20), С. 3294 - 3294

Опубликована: Окт. 22, 2023

It is important to understand the effects of COVID-19 pandemic on animal caregivers and their companion animals in order inform responses future crises. Prior research inconsistent, with benefits companionship believed be overstated. In this scoping review, we searched four electronic databases hand-searched reference lists included studies. Over 4000 citations were found, 122 review. Reflecting pre-COVID literature, quantitative evidence association between psychological well-being during was mixed, numerous positive, negative, null findings reported. Studies highlighted pandemic, reported provide a routine, sense greater purpose, positive distraction from COVID-19, companionship, emotional support. However, participants also concerns about meeting animals' needs, fears catching or spreading virus, financial worries. Concerns what would happen if hospitalized led some delay testing treatment. Animals experienced (such as increased calmer mood) negative impacts clinginess separation anxiety). Companion should key consideration emergency preparedness plans.

Язык: Английский

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Assessment and Validation of the Pet-Owner Relationship Scale for Brazil

Опубликована: Март 26, 2024

This study aimed to conduct a cross-cultural adaptation of the development cat-owner/dog-owner relationship scales. The method encompassed several stages: conceptual, item, semantic, operational, measurement, and functional equivalence. Processes included translations, synthesis back-translations, consensus on English versions, external evaluation by original authors, expert committee evaluation, pre-tests. involved surveying 342 pet owners throughout Brazil using 20-item questionnaire. Data analyses utilized confirmatory factor analysis, covariance-based modeling, multigroup analysis. techniques confirmed that scale preserved its psychometric properties showed no variance between dog cat owners, indicating measured constructs are universal unaffected specific cultural nuances. Hence, validation facilitate applying testing concepts measures in diverse contexts, enriching our understanding dynamics their pets (dogs cats) different living situations. In addition, this research holds particular significance Brazil, given country’s vast diversity.

Язык: Английский

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Longitudinal Loyalty: Understanding The Barriers To Running Longitudinal Studies On Crowdsourcing Platforms

ACM Transactions on Social Computing, Год журнала: 2024, Номер 7(1-4), С. 1 - 49

Опубликована: Июль 11, 2024

Crowdsourcing tasks have been widely used to collect a large number of human labels at scale. While some these are deployed by requesters and performed only once crowd workers, others require the same worker perform task or variant it more than once, thus participating in so-called longitudinal study . Despite prevalence studies crowdsourcing, there is limited understanding factors that influence participation them across different crowdsourcing marketplaces. We present results from large-scale survey 300 workers on 3 micro-task platforms: Amazon Mechanical Turk, Prolific, Toloka. The aim understand how using crowdsourcing. answers about 547 experiences we analyze both quantitatively qualitatively. synthesize 17 take-home messages together with 8 recommendations for 5 best practices platforms adequately conduct support such kinds studies. release data at: https://osf.io/h4du9/.

Язык: Английский

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Human Preferences for Dogs and Cats: The Current Situation and Influencing Factors

Опубликована: Авг. 12, 2024

Dogs and cats have become the most influential successful pets through long-term domestication. People keep them for various reasons, such as their functional roles or physical psychological support. However, why humans are so attached to dogs remains unclear. A comprehensive understanding of current state human preferences potential factors behind it is required. Here, we investigate this question using two independent online datasets anonymous questionnaires. We find that relatively higher than other interests, games music. Genetic variations, gender, age, economic development levels notably influence these cats. Specifically, dog cat ownership significantly heritable (h2 = 0.43, 95%CI: 0.35 -0.51) further analysis found women, young people, those with incomes more likely cats, primary reason gain emotional Our study provides insights into get establishes a foundation developing co-evolutionary models.

Язык: Английский

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