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Human-animal interaction as a social determinant of health: descriptive findings from the health and retirement study.
- Source :
- BMC Public Health; 3/9/2018, Vol. 18, p1-1, 1p, 3 Charts
- Publication Year :
- 2018
-
Abstract
- <bold>Background: </bold>We focused on human-animal interaction (HAI) as an important aspect of social functioning at the individual level, framing this emerging field from a public health perspective.<bold>Methods: </bold>Using data from the Health and Retirement Study (HRS) 2012 HAI module, we describe the characteristics of pet ownership in a population of older adults, and examine the relation between pet ownership and multiple mental and physical health indicators such as health status, depression, and physical activity.<bold>Results: </bold>Of the 1657 participants in our subsample, approximately half (51.5%) reported being pet owners; the majority owned dogs or cats, and most had only one pet. Pet ownership was significantly associated with a higher likelihood of ever having had depression, with pet owners being 1.89 times more likely to have experienced depression. However, pet ownership was not associated with having experienced depression within the last week.<bold>Conclusions: </bold>The findings from this study could indicate a relationship between pet ownership and depression, but it is impossible to determine the directionality of that relationship. It is possible that owning a pet may put a person at an increased risk of developing depression, or individuals who are at risk, or who have already developed depression, may acquire a pet as a way of managing their depressive symptoms. The findings of this study provide an initial step in contributing to our understanding of the relationship between companion animals and the social, physical, and mental well-being of the HRS study population. Future research should include measures of HAI in longitudinal, population-based surveys. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
- Subjects :
- HUMAN-animal relationships
HEALTH status indicators
MENTAL depression
PUBLIC health
PHYSICAL activity
RETIREMENT
ACQUISITION of property
ANIMAL experimentation
CATS
COMPARATIVE studies
DOGS
LONGITUDINAL method
RESEARCH methodology
MEDICAL cooperation
PETS
RESEARCH
RESEARCH funding
EVALUATION research
HEALTH & social status
Subjects
Details
- Language :
- English
- ISSN :
- 14712458
- Volume :
- 18
- Database :
- Complementary Index
- Journal :
- BMC Public Health
- Publication Type :
- Academic Journal
- Accession number :
- 128367246
- Full Text :
- https://doi.org/10.1186/s12889-018-5188-0