Year: 2012
Type: dissertation
Study design: Observational Study
Abstract: The rate of mental health disorders is increasing every year worldwide. The gap between the burden caused by these disorders and the resources available to prevent and treat them is considerable. Companion animals have been suggested as a prevention and a treatment measure. \nThe aims of the study were to see if pet owners differed from non-pet owners, if they perceived their health to be better, were less likely to be diagnosed and suffer from depression, anxiety and stress, and were more satisfied with life than non-pet owners. \nThe study uses data from a cross-sectional questionnaire survey conducted in 2009, with a population based sample of 5.294 Icelanders, aged 18-79, and a response rate of 77.3%. DASS was used to measure depression, anxiety and stress. SWLS was used to measure satisfaction with life. SPSS19 was used to analyze the data. Differences between pet owners and non-pet owners were examined with Pearson´s chi square tests and t-test. Binary logistic regression was used to test the association between pet ownership and psychological variables. \nPet owners were significantly younger, had higher education, lived more often with others and in rural areas. They were also more likely to find it more difficult to make ends meet than non-pet owners. Adjusting for these variables, pet owners were found to have higher odds of depressive symptoms (OR=1.26; 95%CI 1.01-1.57) and symptoms of stress (OR=1.49; 95%CI 1.10-2.01). Pet owners also scored lower on the SWLS scale (OR=1.57: 95%CI 1.25-1.98) and might therefore be presented with lower satisfaction with life. \nOur data indicate that pet owners present with higher levels of depression and stress and lower levels of satisfaction with life. Since the study is cross-sectional, the direction of the observed association is not known.
Source: Skemman
Author: Heiðdís Björk Gunnarsdóttir
Language: English
Subfield: Animal Science and Zoology
Domain: Life Sciences
Open Access status: green
OpenAlex ID: W1891332955