Pet Ownership and Quality of Life: A Systematic Review of the Literature.

Kristel J Scoresby,Charles Robert Stilz,Marcy Souza,Zenithson Ng,Cristina S Barroso,Kristen Strobel,Kathleen C Brown,Elizabeth B Strand

doi:10.3390/vetsci8120332

Kristel J Scoresby, Charles Robert Stilz + Show 6 more

Open Access

https://doi.org/10.3390/vetsci8120332

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Abstract

Pet ownership is the most common form of human–animal interaction, and anecdotally, pet ownership can lead to improved physical and mental health for owners. However, scant research is available validating these claims. This study aimed to review the recent peer reviewed literature to better describe the body of knowledge surrounding the relationship between pet ownership and mental health. A literature search was conducted in May 2020 using two databases to identify articles that met inclusion/exclusion criteria. After title review, abstract review, and then full article review, 54 articles were included in the final analysis. Of the 54 studies, 18 were conducted in the general population, 15 were conducted in an older adult population, eight were conducted in children and adolescents, nine focused on people with chronic disease, and four examined a specific unique population. Forty-one of the studies were cross-sectional, 11 were prospective longitudinal cohorts, and two were other study designs. For each of the articles, the impact of pet ownership on the mental health of owners was divided into four categories: positive impact (n = 17), mixed impact (n = 19), no impact (n = 13), and negative impact (n = 5). Among the reviewed articles, there was much variation in population studied and study design, and these differences make direct comparison challenging. However, when focusing on the impact of pet ownership on mental health, the results were variable and not wholly supportive of the benefit of pets on mental health. Future research should use more consistent methods across broader populations and the development of a pet-ownership survey module for use in broad, population surveys would afford a better description of the true relationship of pet ownership and mental health.

Highlights

Throughout history, animals have played a significant role in society including in agriculture and pet ownership
Total of 54 articles met the inclusion and exclusion criteria (Table 1) and were systematically extracted (Table 2). These articles were divided into four categories based on the type of overall impact pets had on the mental health of owners: (1) positive impact (n = 17); (2) mixed impact (n = 19); (3) no impact (n = 13); and (4) negative impact (n = 5)
A few representative studies with mixed results include one examining the general population, which found that unmarried men who live with a pet had the most depressive symptoms and unmarried women who live with a pet had the fewest [19]

Summary

Introduction

Throughout history, animals have played a significant role in society including in agriculture and pet ownership. The importance of animals in our lives is founded on the human–animal bond concept, which is the “mutually beneficial and dynamic relationship that exists between people and other animals that is influenced by behaviors that are essential to the health and well-being of both” [5]. This concept has championed animals as companions and family members, leading to their essential part of everyday life for many. The human–animal bond has driven the common belief that pets are good for human health, both physical and mental [6,7,8]

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