Jiang, Tony
(2024)
The Impact of Canine and Feline Companionship on Loneliness Among Adults Aged 60 Years and Older in the United States and Western Europe: A Literature Review.
Master Essay, University of Pittsburgh.
Abstract
Loneliness among adults 60 years and older is an important issue that impacts various aspects of well-being, including mental and physical health, quality of life, and aging experiences. With the aging population growing, understanding factors influencing mental health outcomes is crucial. One intriguing dimension is the role of pet ownership, particularly canine and feline companionship, in mitigating loneliness. This literature review explored the impact of canine and feline companionship on loneliness among adults aged > 60 in the United States and Western Europe. A comprehensive search across Medline, APA PsycInfo, and Embase yielded 194 records, with 6 papers meeting inclusion criteria, all cross-sectional studies. Loneliness assessment methods predominantly involved questionnaires, including variations of the UCLA Loneliness Scale. Mixed findings emerged regarding the association between animal companionship and loneliness, with some studies reporting no significant association while others observed positive correlations. Notably, one study identified a slight decrease in loneliness among older adults with feline companionship after 4 months, although long-term effects were not seen at 12 months. Strengths of this literature review included the inclusion of studies published in 2011 or later, detailed explanation of loneliness scales, and specific focus on canine and feline companionship, and focus on older adults aged 60 and over. Limitations include reliance on a small number of papers and limited geographic scope. More rigorous studies are needed to further explore strategies to alleviate loneliness, particularly with animal companionships, to improve the quality of life of older individuals in these regions. Given the potential harmful effects of loneliness on the mental (and physical) well-being of older adults, addressing this issue remains of significant public health importance.
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Details
| Item Type: |
Other Thesis, Dissertation, or Long Paper
(Master Essay)
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| Status: |
Unpublished |
| Creators/Authors: |
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| Contributors: |
| Contribution | Contributors Name | Email | Pitt Username | ORCID  |
|---|
| Committee Chair | Glynn, Nancy | epidnwg@pitt.edu | epidnwg | UNSPECIFIED | | Committee Member | Rauktis, Mary | mar104@pitt.edu | mar104 | UNSPECIFIED | | Committee Member | Mulvaney, Elizabeth | eam65@pitt.edu | eam65 | UNSPECIFIED |
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| Centers: |
Other Centers, Institutes, Offices, or Units > Epidemiology Data Center |
| Date: |
13 June 2024 |
| Date Type: |
Submission |
| Access Restriction: |
No restriction; Release the ETD for access worldwide immediately. |
| Number of Pages: |
54 |
| Institution: |
University of Pittsburgh |
| Schools and Programs: |
School of Public Health > Epidemiology |
| Degree: |
MPH - Master of Public Health |
| Thesis Type: |
Master Essay |
| Refereed: |
Yes |
| Uncontrolled Keywords: |
animal, companion, cats, dogs, loneliness, scales, europe, america |
| Date Deposited: |
27 Jun 2024 02:05 |
| Last Modified: |
27 Jun 2024 02:05 |
| URI: |
http://d-scholarship.pitt.edu/id/eprint/46569 |
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