Pet Ownership: A Research Note

Lawton, M. Powell; Moss, Miriam S.; Moles, Elizabeth

doi:10.1093/geront/24.2.208

Cited by 36 publications

(9 citation statements)

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“…Overall, 24.2% of the participants were dog owners. In comparison, estimates of dog ownership in the U.S. among older adults in the mid to late 1980s were 16–17% (Lawton et al, 1984; Marx et al, 1987). …”

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Relationships between dog ownership and physical activity in postmenopausal women

Garcia

Wertheim

Manson

et al. 2015

Preventive Medicine

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Background Positive associations between dog ownership and physical activity in older adults have been previously reported. Purpose The objective of this study was to examine cross-sectional associations between dog ownership and physical activity measures in a well-characterized, diverse sample of postmenopausal women. Methods Analyses included 36,984 dog owners (mean age: 61.5 yrs), and 115,645 non-dog owners (mean age: 63.9 yrs) enrolled in a clinical trial or the observational study of the Women’s Health Initiative between 1993 and 1998. Logistic regression models were used to test for associations between dog ownership and physical activity, adjusted for potential confounders. Results Owning a dog was associated with a higher likelihood of walking ≥150 min/wk (OR, 1.14; 95% CI, 1.10–1.17) and a lower likelihood of being sedentary ≥8 hr/day (OR, 0.86; 95% CI, 0.83–0.89) as compared to not owning a dog. However, dog owners were less likely to meet ≥7.5 MET-hr/wk of total physical activity as compared to non-dog owners (OR, 1.03; 95% CI, 1.00–1.07). Conclusions Dog ownership is associated with increased physical activity in older women, particularly among women living alone. Health promotion efforts aimed at older adults should highlight the benefits of regular dog walking for both dog owners and non-dog owners.

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Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Relationships between dog ownership and physical activity in postmenopausal women

Garcia

Wertheim

Manson

et al. 2015

Preventive Medicine

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“…Data from the National Senior Citizens Survey of 1968 yielded no relationship between pet ownership and morale or health, though information was not provided about how health was measured (Lawton, Moss, & Moles, 1984). In contrast, findings from a national probability sample of elderly persons (65 years or older) showed that pet attachment and depression were significantly, and inversely, related (Garrity et al, 1989).…”

Section: The Health Effects Of Pet Ownershipmentioning

confidence: 99%

Companion Animals: In Sickness and in Health

Siegel

1993

Journal of Social Issues

112

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The literature on animals as human companions is divided into studies of naturally occurring pet ownership and studies in which pets have been introduced as some form of intervention. Research on naturally occurring pet ownership has yielded mixed results, although there is a tendency for studies that are stronger methodologically to show some mental or physical health advantage to ownership. The evaluation of interventions has not yet progressed beyond clinical impressions. Thus, the potential of such interventions has not been adequately assessed. I discuss human-animal relations in terms of attachment and stress reduction, using data from my research to illustrate the stress reduction perspective. 157 0022-4537/93/0300-0157$07.00/ I 0 1993 The Society for the Rychological Study of Social Issues

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“…Conversely, several researchers employing rather large samples have found no related health benefits with pet ownership (Garrity, Stallones, Marx, & Johnson, 1989;Lawton, Moss, & Moles, 1984;Robb & Stegman, 1983;Tucker, Friedman, Tasi, & Martin, 1995). Some of the above researchers (Garrity, Stallones, Marx, & Johnson, 1989;Robb & Stegman, 1983) have implicated attachment or commitment to a pet as a mediator variable, but again the results on attachment have been mixed (Ory & Goldberg, 1983;Staats, Miller, Carnot, Rada, & Turnes, 1996;Garrity, Stallones, Marx, & Johnson, 1989).…”

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confidence: 99%

Teachers' Pets and Why They Have Them: An Investigation of the Human Animal Bond¹

Staats

Sears

Pierfelice³

2006

J Applied Social Pyschol

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The present study queried a random, university faculty sample as to their reasons for owning pets. Mere pet ownership was not correlated with self-reported health, happiness, or quality of work life in this sample. Five dominant reasons were given for pet ownership. Women were more likely than men to self-report reasons related to social support for pet ownership, including that a pet helped them get through hard times and that they would be lonely without a pet. Men were more likely to report pragmatic reasons, such as the pet facilitating exercise or serving a useful function. Beliefs in the positive effects of pets on health were typical. Those beliefs in the health promoting aspects of pets are suggested as a link to human health and a promising area for future research.

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Pet Ownership: A Research Note

Cited by 36 publications

References 0 publications

Relationships between dog ownership and physical activity in postmenopausal women

Relationships between dog ownership and physical activity in postmenopausal women

Companion Animals: In Sickness and in Health

Teachers' Pets and Why They Have Them: An Investigation of the Human Animal Bond¹

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Pet Ownership: A Research Note

Cited by 36 publications

References 0 publications

Relationships between dog ownership and physical activity in postmenopausal women

Relationships between dog ownership and physical activity in postmenopausal women

Companion Animals: In Sickness and in Health

Teachers' Pets and Why They Have Them: An Investigation of the Human Animal Bond1

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Teachers' Pets and Why They Have Them: An Investigation of the Human Animal Bond¹