Animal companions have long enriched our lives, and for some, have become an integral part of the family. According to the 2017-2018 APPA National Pet Owners Survey, there has been a consistent increase in pet ownership over the last couple of decades, such that 68%, or 84.6 million, U.S. households own a pet; 48% of which own dogs and 38% own feline companions. Research suggests that owning a pet or being treated with animal-assisted therapy (AAT) may provide social and physical benefits to humans. For this literature review, we will explore the major findings of AAT and pet-related research over the last several decades with an emphasis on the physiological effects and social support benefits of owning canine companions.
Literature Review
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Establishing friendship or a sense of camaraderie is critical to our overall fitness and one’s health may suffer if they are not getting adequate social support. Hawkley and Cacioppo (2010) drew parallels between loneliness and the physical sensations of hunger, thirst, and even pain when a person is faced with being disconnected socially. In fact, ongoing research in the areas of loneliness and social isolation have consistently shown that those who are chronically lonely may suffer from a variety of health consequences such as cardiovascular problems, accelerated aging, and even earlier mortality to name a few (Caspi et al., 2006; Hawkley & Cacioppo, 2007). One such study by Caspi and colleagues (2006) illustrated the consequences of just how impactful …show more content…
This is where having an animal companion would be beneficial, not only does the animal itself provide a form of friendship but it may facilitate interactions with others. For example, studies have observed that upon acquiring a service dog, adults in wheelchairs had more social interactions than those without a service dog (Hart, Hart, & Bergin, 1987; Eddy, Hart, & Boltz, 1988). These researchers found that in a public scenario where a handicapped individual would likely be ignored, owning a service dog promoted more positive social attention such as smiles and conversation from strangers. Another study found similar results in that others were more likely to acknowledge disabled children (i.e., friendly glances, smiles, and conversation) when in the presence of a service dog (Mader, Hart, & Bergin, 1989). Seniors, especially those living alone, may also benefit from the company of a canine companion to help keep them active and engaged with their community. A telephone survey conducted by Wood and colleagues (2014) collected data about pet owners, their types of pets, and if they had formed friendships with others as a result of having an animal companion. Findings of the survey revealed that dog owners
Some medical professionals do not believe that mental health patients can benefit from therapy dogs and go as far as saying it is a risk far as to say that it is a to the patient and compromise the patients ability to take care of the dog. When people who suffer with mental health issues qualify to get a therapy dog. The mental health patient is tested to see if they are capable of taking care of the dog. Those in need of assistance should use therapy dogs frequently do to the part of the benefits to using these pets to improve mental and emotional health as and physical health. Therapy dogs are beneficial to people who suffer from mental health issues by providing companionship as well as support. Some people with mental health issues have a hard time trusting others and need someone to talk to; Service dogs are important because to make they people with mental health problems feel better and help people with these disorders deal with their emotions.
Several studies have examined the effects of dog ownership on people's physical and mental health. Dog ownership produces considerable health benefit and provides social support that encourages dog owners to walk (Cutt et al.2007 ). Pet owners appear to have lower systolic blood pressure and blood cholesterol levels(Anderson et al 1992). Pet owners with serious mental illness living in the community demonstrate higher social community integration(Zimalog and Krupa 2009). Socially excluded participants who performed in the presence of a dog report higher mental well-being compared with socially excluded participants who did not work in the presence of a dog (Nilüfer et al 2012). Although there is evidence suggesting that dog ownership can improve people's physical and mental health, there is little research documenting the psychological and behavioral effects of dog-assisted therapy, especially on elderly patients with dementia, who have dif...
Several studies also asserted that loneliness is correlated with aging itself (Tijhuis et al, 1999; Victor et al, 2000) and that there was a gradual increase in loneliness up to the age of 90 (Holmen, 1992). This increasing trend can be attributed to interactions with other factors due to additive nature of risk factors for loneliness and social isolation (Victor et al, 2000).
Most people are familiar with service dogs and have seen them in action. Animal-assisted therapy is similar service animals in that an animal-human healing partnership is being created. However, the difference is that therapy pets are typically used to treat a mental disability whereas people with physical disabilities use service dogs to help them in many ways. Therapy animals are used in a wide variety of places, such as, hospitals, prisons, nursing homes, therapy sessions, mental healthcare facilities, and even in people’s homes. These amazing animals are used on a wide variety of different disorders, but they are utilized mostly by people suffering from depression, anxiety, and PTSD. For people with these mental health disorders, everything in live can be difficult and challenging, however with the help of animal-assisted therapy, their mood, motivation, and life can dramatically improve. Anyone who hears about these brave, loving animals soon falls in love with them. From a medical standpoint, there have been many successful studies and the support for animal-assisted therapy still continues to grow in doctors and therapists across the nation.
Research has been done in the area of human-animal companionship and security, and stress management. Due to the relative newness of this field and the difficulties in studying it, most research has been concentrated on the elderly, specifically, institutionalized elderly. Pets have been introduced into these settings in order to minimize the negative consequences of institutionalization. Most research has been conducted on the extreme ends of the continuum, either very brief visitation or therapy of resident pets studies (Wrinkler 216).
In the field of therapy, there are numerous of therapy available out there for different type of individuals and situations as well. There is one type of therapy that usually contains people and animal, it is animal-assisted therapy is a therapeutic approach that brings animals and individuals with physical and/or emotional needs together to perform the therapy. Animal-assisted therapy tend to be focused on individuals either children or elderly for them to be able to connect with the animal thus feeling comfortable talking with the therapist. Pet therapy works for all ages, whether sick or not (Lanchnit, 2011). Although, this paper, most of the focus is on animal-assisted therapy towards children using dogs.
Each; amongst other significant changes in lifestyles, can leave a sudden gap in correlation to the relationship experienced before this change (Ind, J. 2015). This experience of fleeting loneliness is natural and a form of self-preservation as indicated by Joseph Rowntree Foundation (JRF) (2013) in Neighbourhood approaches in loneliness, describing it as a “natural appetite, like thirst and hunger, prompting us to take action, to seek company”. Although this form of transient loneliness can be deemed self-preserving, longstanding persistent loneliness is significantly damaging both physically and mentally. Lunstad et al (2010) indicates the effects of suffering from chronic loneliness are comparable with mortality risk factors in smokers and exceed those of obesity. Older people are particularly susceptible to health problems, adding their vulnerability to loneliness the damaging effects of this can have a serious impact on their health (NHS, 2015). When considering an older person there is a presumption their loneliness is simply due to their children leaving, or losing their partner. There is perhaps an acceptance that this is a natural consequence of aging, Kar- Purkayastha, I, (2010) eloquently portrays this phenomenon in the essay, An epidemic of loneliness. Based on the experiences whilst working in a
Loneliness is a complex and unpleasant feeling also a anxious feeling. Loneliness can be caused by lack of connection or communication. It is sometimes called a social pain (“Emotion”). Some say it’s caused by a physical absence of meaningful people. Things that can come out of loneliness is self-destructive behavior, life-threatening health, weight gain, and heart disease. A way to fix loneliness is by pet therapy with involves animals like dogs, cats, and rabbits (“Emotion”). People with loneliness could have poor sleep quality, anxiety, or obesity. Unstable marriages can cause loneliness. “ Loneliness has been linked with depression, and is thus a risk factor for suicide”, (“Emotion”). Don’t let lonely people struggle alone. Some people who are lonely might go to Bora Bora for social
Tomaka, J, Thompson, S & Palacios, R 2006, ‘The relation of social isolation, loneliness, and social support to disease outcomes among the elderly’, Journal of Aging and Health, vol. 18, no. 3, pp. 359-384.
Cacioppo expands on pain of loneliness since it alerts damage to human beings social body. In fact, isolation is a rival to social existence, even though it is growing within humankind. Loneliness is dangerous for the fact that it increases defensiveness. Another evidence for social factor being closely mixed with biological is that loneliness odds for dying early are higher than even for air pollution, obesity and excessive alcohol drinking. But it remains unclear as to why it is so.
Animal-Assisted Therapy (AAT), which can be provided in a group or individual settings, is designed to promote improvement in a human’s physical, social, emotional, or cognitive function. An article by Chitic, Rusu, and Szamoskozi (2012) provides an analysis in order to determine the value of AAT. Both dogs and horses that were trained for AAT were examined and studied to determine their effectiveness in treating patients with psychological disorders. The results showed that both therapy dogs and horses were valuable aids to the therapeutic process. The analysis suggests that proper training and repeated sessions were necessary for proper treatment of patients. In addition, certain disorders may benefit more than others in regards to AAT. For example, a child with ADHD may not benefit from a therapy dog’s presence, for it may worsen the hyperactive symptoms. On the other hand, a patient with depression may benefit greatly from the same animal (Chitic, Rusu, Szamoskozi, 2012). These findings are a perfect starting point to answering the research question: Do patients who engage in AAT display a betterment in their overall emotional well-being, as well as show improvement in their interpersonal interactions...
al., 2013). In the meta-analytic review conducted by Hold-Lunsted, individuals who were physically socially isolated, perceived loneliness, and lived alone were 26%-32% had an “increased likelihood of mortality” and that those under the age of 65-years-old were more affected than those 65 or older by the objective/subjective isolation (Hold-Lunstand et. al., 2015). In relation to Scott and Davenport’s novel, this describes how isolation from reconnection can harbor physical detriments and helps to support mindful social
Junghyun, K., LaRose, R., & Wei, P. (2009). Loneliness as the Cause and the Effect of
Owning a pet can have many physical and mental health benefits. Medical studies show having a pet result's in lower blood pressure, cholesterol levels, and triglyceride levels. Pets have a role in cardiovascular health from lowering blood pressure, and they encourage psychosocial stability in owners, which further reduces the risk of heart disease. In the hectic and fast-paced world we live in today, pets are actually saving our lives. Pets provide an excuse to be active, dogs live an active lifestyle, wanting to play and run around outside. By making us more active and improving our health, dogs often provide a good workout! Instead of sitting on the couch being lazy, dogs are eager to transfer their energy and enthusiasm to the owner benefiting both dog and owner in many ways. Studies show that dogs demonstrate trust and provide comfort to the sick or elderly thus helping people to live longer and to be more positive as they age. Animal owners over 75 years of age have f...
In today’s world, more people are socially isolated than ever. “Americans are far more socially isolated today than they were two decades ago, and a sharply growing number of people say they have no one in whom they can confide, according to a comprehensive new evaluation of the decline of social ties in the United States” (Vedantam 1). Some effects of social isolation are very severe just as doctor Khullar suggests, “A wave of new research suggests social separation is bad for us’. Individuals with less social connection have disrupted sleep patterns, altered immune systems, more inflammation and higher levels of stress hormones”. (Khullar 2). He has even personally seen the many problems people go through because of this, “Every day I see variations at both the beginning and end of life: a young man abandoned by friends as he struggles with opioid addiction; an older woman getting by on tea and toast, living in filth, no longer able to clean her cluttered apartment. In these moments, it seems the only thing worse than suffering a serious illness is suffering it alone” (Khullar 1). He also suggests that this epidemic starts in the early stages of life, “These effects start early: Socially isolated children have significantly poorer health 20 years later, even after controlling for other factors” (Khullar