Abstract
Pet ownership has been shown to improve quality of life for older adults. The objective of this cross-sectional study was to compare older pet owners and older non-pet owners and assess differences between groups. This study was conducted on adults over 50 years of age, who owned either one cat or one dog versus nonowners based on age, race, gender, and education. Matched older pet owners (OPO) versus non-pet owners (NPO) pairs (n = 84), older cat owners (OCO) versus non-cat owners (NCO) (n = 29), and older dog owners (ODO) versus non-dog owners (NDO) pairs (n = 55) were analyzed. No differences were found between OPO and NPO for dietary, activity, or lifestyle, except OPO had fewer health conditions [p < 0.03]. Total OCO had greater body mass indices [BMI] (μ = 29.6 ± 8.2) than ODO (μ = 23.2 ± 5.2) [p < 0.02], less activity [p < 0.02], and shorter duration of activity [p < 0.05] and took fewer supplements [p < 0.003]. OCO and NCO differed on health conditions (μ = 0.8 ± 0.9 versus μ = 1.9 ± 1.3, [p < 0.008]) and ODO versus NDO differed on BMI (μ = 25 ± 4 versus μ = 27 ± 6, [p < 0.04]). Although there are limitations to this study, data may be useful for targeting marketing and health messages to older persons.
Highlights
Pet ownership is alleged to have beneficial effects on health in older adults [1]; a study of community dwelling, ill, and debilitated elderly adults was conducted
Split analyses resulted in matched older pet owners (OPO) versus non-pet owners (NPO) usable pairs (n = 84), cat owners (OCO) versus non-cat owners (NCO) pairs (n = 29), and dog owners (ODO) versus non-dog owners (NDO) pairs (n = 55)
No significant differences were found between total OPO and NPO for dietary intake, physical activity, or lifestyle characteristics, with exception of OPO having fewer numbers of documented health conditions, despite being matched for demographics using t-testing
Summary
Pet ownership is alleged to have beneficial effects on health in older adults [1]; a study of community dwelling, ill, and debilitated elderly adults was conducted. In a cross-sectional analysis of 12,297 older adults in the Netherlands, 2358 were pet owners. Older adults who owned a dog showed significantly (p < 0.001) increased activity and socialization. Older adults who owned a cat showed decreased activity and socialization [2]. In a study of Scandinavians older adults who owned a dog showed overall better health and health related behaviors when compared to older adult non-pet owners and cat owners. Cat ownership was associated with higher blood pressure, worse health status, and less physical activity when compared to older adult noncat owners (p < 0.001) [3]
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