Pet ownership and symptoms of depression: A prospective study of older adults.
Depression
Depressive symptoms
Older adults
Pet ownership
Journal
Journal of affective disorders
ISSN: 1573-2517
Titre abrégé: J Affect Disord
Pays: Netherlands
ID NLM: 7906073
Informations de publication
Date de publication:
01 03 2020
01 03 2020
Historique:
received:
22
08
2019
revised:
22
10
2019
accepted:
29
11
2019
pubmed:
18
12
2019
medline:
16
2
2021
entrez:
18
12
2019
Statut:
ppublish
Résumé
This paper aims to examine associations between pet ownership and symptoms of depression in a large, population-based sample of older adults. Specifically, we tested whether: (i) people who report more depressive symptoms are more likely to own a pet; (ii) pet ownership protects against an increase in depressive symptoms over time; (iii) associations differ by symptom type. Data were drawn from the English Longitudinal Study of Ageing, a longitudinal panel study of men and women aged 50 and older (n = 7,617, 52.5% female). Pet ownership (dog/cat/other/none) was self-reported in 2010/11. Depressive symptoms were assessed in 2010/11 and 2016/17 using the 8-item centre for Epidemiologic Studies Depression (CES-D) scale. We analysed total CES-D score and derived symptom subscales (depressed mood, anhedonia, somatic symptoms) in relation to pet ownership, adjusting for sociodemographic and health-related covariates. A one-symptom increase in total CES-D score was associated with 7% increased odds of dog ownership (OR=1.07, 95% CI 1.03-1.11). Significant associations were observed between each subset of depressive symptoms and dog ownership, with models run on z-scores showing a slightly stronger association for symptoms of depressed mood (OR=1.13, 95% CI 1.06-1.21) compared with anhedonia (OR=1.10, 95% CI 1.04-1.17) or somatic symptoms (OR=1.10, 95% CI 1.03-1.18). Prospectively, no significant associations were found. Self-reported data; small sample size for some pet categories. Amongst older adults in England, those with more depressive symptoms are more likely to own a dog, but pet ownership is not significantly associated with change in depressive symptoms over time.
Sections du résumé
BACKGROUND
This paper aims to examine associations between pet ownership and symptoms of depression in a large, population-based sample of older adults. Specifically, we tested whether: (i) people who report more depressive symptoms are more likely to own a pet; (ii) pet ownership protects against an increase in depressive symptoms over time; (iii) associations differ by symptom type.
METHODS
Data were drawn from the English Longitudinal Study of Ageing, a longitudinal panel study of men and women aged 50 and older (n = 7,617, 52.5% female). Pet ownership (dog/cat/other/none) was self-reported in 2010/11. Depressive symptoms were assessed in 2010/11 and 2016/17 using the 8-item centre for Epidemiologic Studies Depression (CES-D) scale. We analysed total CES-D score and derived symptom subscales (depressed mood, anhedonia, somatic symptoms) in relation to pet ownership, adjusting for sociodemographic and health-related covariates.
RESULTS
A one-symptom increase in total CES-D score was associated with 7% increased odds of dog ownership (OR=1.07, 95% CI 1.03-1.11). Significant associations were observed between each subset of depressive symptoms and dog ownership, with models run on z-scores showing a slightly stronger association for symptoms of depressed mood (OR=1.13, 95% CI 1.06-1.21) compared with anhedonia (OR=1.10, 95% CI 1.04-1.17) or somatic symptoms (OR=1.10, 95% CI 1.03-1.18). Prospectively, no significant associations were found.
LIMITATIONS
Self-reported data; small sample size for some pet categories.
CONCLUSION
Amongst older adults in England, those with more depressive symptoms are more likely to own a dog, but pet ownership is not significantly associated with change in depressive symptoms over time.
Identifiants
pubmed: 31846900
pii: S0165-0327(19)32269-4
doi: 10.1016/j.jad.2019.11.134
pii:
doi:
Types de publication
Journal Article
Langues
eng
Sous-ensembles de citation
IM
Pagination
35-39Informations de copyright
Copyright © 2019 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.
Déclaration de conflit d'intérêts
Declarations of Competing Interest None.