Influence of companion animals on the physical and psychological health of older people: An analysis of a one-year longitudinal study
Influence of companion animals on the physical and psychological health of older people: An analysis of a one-year longitudinal study
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DOI：
10.1111/j.1532-5415.1999.tb02996.x
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发表时间：
1999-03-01
影响因子：
6.3
通讯作者：
Abernathy, T
中科院分区：
文献类型：
--
作者：
Raina, P;Waltner-Toews, D;Abernathy, T
目的：研究伴侣动物或对伴侣动物的依恋是否与老年人身心健康的变化有关，以及伴侣动物的存在或不存在是否会改变身心健康与人类社会网络之间的关系。设计：一项为期1年的纵向研究，在基线时收集标准化的电话访谈数据，并在1年后重复。背景：加拿大安大略省惠灵顿县参与者：年龄和性别分层随机样本(基线n = 1054；随访n = 995)，年龄在65岁及以上（平均年龄= 73,SD +/- 6.3）。测量方法：使用家庭和非家庭社会支持量表测量社会网络活动，参与有组织的社会团体，参与社会团体事务，向他人倾诉的行为，孤独感，以及在危机情况下感知到的支持存在。慢性疾病以当前选定健康问题的数量来衡量。养宠物的情况通过养狗或养猫的报告和列克星敦宠物依恋量表评分来评估。身体健康被评估为进行日常生活活动（ADLs）的能力。心理健康是一个综合分数，包括一个人对健康、家庭和朋友关系、工作、财务、总体生活、整体幸福感和感知心理健康的满意度。评估的社会人口学变量包括受试者年龄、性别、婚姻状况、生活安排、教育程度、家庭收入和主要生活事件。结果：养宠物的人比不养宠物的人更年轻，目前已婚或与他人同居，并且更活跃。在调整了其他变量后，1年期间，目前没有养宠物的受访者的平均ADL水平比目前养宠物的受访者恶化得更严重（beta = - 0.270, P = 0.040）。养宠物与心理健康变化之间没有统计学上显著的直接关联（P < 0.01）。然而，在1年的时间里，养宠物显著改变了社会支持与心理健康变化之间的关系（P = 0.001）。结论：结果表明养宠物对维持或略微提高老年人的ADL水平有好处。然而，养宠物和老年人的幸福感之间存在着更为复杂的关系。
OBJECTIVE: To examine whether companion animals or attachment to a companion animal was associated with changes in physical and psychological health in older people and whether the relationships between physical and psychological health and human social networks were modified by the presence or absence of a companion animal.DESIGN: A 1-year longitudinal study with standardized telephone interview data collected at baseline and repeated at 1-yearSETTING: Wellington County, Ontario, CanadaPARTICIPANTS: An age- and sex stratified random sample (baseline n = 1054; follow-up n = 995) of noninstitutionalized adults aged 65 and older (mean age = 73, SD +/- 6.3)MEASUREMENTS: Social Network Activity was measured using a family and non-family social support scale, participation in an organized social group, involvement in the affairs of the social group, the practice of confiding in others, feelings of loneliness, and the perceived presence of support in a crisis situation. Chronic conditions were measured as the current number of selected health problems. Pet ownership was assessed by the report of owning a dog or a cat and the Lexington Attachment to Pets Scale score. Physical health was assessed as the ability to perform Activities of Daily Living (ADLs). Psychological health was measured as a summed score comprising the level of satisfaction regarding one's health, family and friend relationships, job, finances, life in general, overall happiness, and perceived mental health. Sociodemographic variables assessed include subject age, sex, marital status, living arrangements, education, household income, and major life events.RESULTS: Pet owners were younger, currently married or living with someone, and more physically active than non-pet owners. The ADL level of respondents who did not currently own pets deteriorated more on average (beta = -.270, P = .040) than that of respondents who currently owned pets after adjusting for other variables during the 1-year period. No statistically significant direct association was observed between pet ownership and change in psychological wellbeing (P > .100). However, pet ownership significantly modified the relationship between social support and the change in psychological well-being (P = .001) over a 1-year period.CONCLUSIONS: The results demonstrate the benefits of pet ownership in maintaining or slightly enhancing ADL levels of older people. However, a more complex relationship was observed between pet ownership and an older person's well-being.