Effect of Pet Insects on the Psychological Health of Community-Dwelling Elderly People: A Single-Blinded, Randomized, Controlled Trial

Abstract

Background: There is evidence that animal-assisted therapy has positive effects on mental health, especially in elderly people. Caring for insects is easy, relatively inexpensive, and does not require much space. Objective: The aim of this 8-week randomized, controlled, single-blinded study was to investigate the effect of pet insects on the psychological health of community-dwelling elderly people. Methods: Elderly subjects (≥65 years old) attending a community center in Daegu, Korea, were enrolled in the study between April and May 2014 and randomized at a 1:1 ratio to receive insect therapy and health advice or only health advice. The insect group received 5 crickets in a cage with sufficient fodder and a detailed instruction manual. At baseline and at 8 weeks, all subjects underwent psychometric tests via a direct interview [Beck Anxiety Inventory, Geriatric Depression Scale (GDS-15), Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE), 36-Item Short Form Health Survey, Insomnia Severity Index, Fatigue Severity Scale, and Brief Encounter Psychosocial Instrument] and laboratory analyses of inflammatory and oxidative stress markers (erythrocyte sedimentation rate, high-sensitivity C-reactive protein, biological antioxidant potential, and derivatives of reactive oxygen metabolites). Results: The insect-caring (n = 46) and control (n = 48) groups did not differ in baseline characteristics. The insect-caring group had significantly lower GDS-15 scores at week 8 (3.20 vs. 4.90, p = 0.004) and, after adjustment for baseline values, a significantly greater change in GDS-15 scores relative to baseline (-1.12 vs. 0.20, p = 0.011). They also had a significantly greater change in MMSE scores relative to baseline (1.13 vs. 0.31, p = 0.045). The two groups did not differ in terms of other psychometric and laboratory tests. No serious risks or adverse events were reported. Conclusion: Caring for insects, which is cost-effective and safe, was associated with a small to medium positive effect on depression and cognitive function in community-dwelling elderly people.

A Systematic Review of Research on Pet Ownership and Animal Interactions among Older Adults

“…One study merited an OCEBM rating of 1b. Ko, Youn, Kim, and Kim (2016) present the results of an 8-week RCT investigating the effect of pet insects on psychological health in community dwelling older Korean adults. The insect-caring group received five crickets in a cage and instructions about how to care for them The insect-caring group (n = 46) and the control group (n = 48) both received instructions about their own healthy lifestyle choices including information about exercise and diet.…”

The State of Research on Human–Animal Relations: Implications for Human Health

“…The research, again, presents a mixed picture in relation to outcome success. For example, community-dwelling elderly people with pets have been shown to have fewer symptoms of depression than those without pets (Ko, Youn, Kim, & Kim, 2015;Roberts, McBride, Rosenvinge, Stevenage, & Bradshaw, 1996), although the degree of attachment between the individual and the animal can impact upon the health benefits accrued (Peretti, 1990); this may explain why some research has failed to find a relationship between pet ownership and levels of depression in older adults (Branson, Boss, Cron, & Kang, 2016;Miller & Lago, 1990). One recent study even found that older adults who owned a pet were nearly two times more likely than non-pet owners to have suffered depression at some point in their lives, although the authors indicated that it was impossible to determine the directionality of the relationship between depression and pet ownership (Mueller, Gee, & Bures, 2018).…”

Critical Review of Research Methods Used to Consider the Impact of Human–Animal Interaction on Older Adults’ Health

“…Most AAIs are conducted with dogs, but it is possible to use many other species; there is no evidence that one animal is more effective than another for most outcomes. In fact the variety of animals included in AAI may be surprising; in addition to dogs and cats, birds (Holcomb, Jendro, Weber, & Nahan, 1997), horses (Schultz, Remick-Barlow, & Robbins, 2007), guinea pigs (O'Haire, McKenzie, Beck, & Slaughter, 2015), goats (DeMello, 1999, rabbits (Pitheckoff, McLaughlin, & de Medeiros, 2016), fish (Barker et al, 2003), and even crickets (Ko et al, 2016) have been involved in AAIs. Obviously cultural acceptability plays a role in which animals are involved.…”

“…The one randomized single blind study of giving pets to older adults involved giving crickets as pets to relatively health Korea community living older adults. After 8 weeks, the new pet owners improved their depression, cognitive status, and mental health quality of life more than a comparison education only group; there were no differences in changes in biological indicators of stress during the same period (Ko, Youn, Kim, & Kim, 2016). Longer term followup would be needed to discover whether this is a novelty effect or a sustained impact of pet ownership.…”