Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, National University of Singapore and National University Health System, Singapore, Singapore.
Saw Swee Hock School of Public Health, National University of Singapore and National University Health System, 12 Science Drive 2, Level 10, Singapore, 117549, Singapore.
Sci Rep. 2020 Nov 16;10(1):19898. doi: 10.1038/s41598-020-76739-2.
Although existing literature increasingly suggests a positive influence of pet ownership on human physical activity levels, results from many European, American, and Japanese studies have been inconsistent. How pet ownership impacts mental health and atopy is likewise controversial and whether distinct demographic subgroups experience differential effects is unclear. This cross-sectional study surveyed participants (n = 823) via a self-administered online questionnaire. Comparisons of outcomes between pet owners and non-pet owners with subgroup analyses were performed within a propensity score-matched subset (n = 566) of respondents. There were no differences in physical activity levels or mental health scores between pet owners and non-pet owners. In subgroup analyses, compared to non-pet owners, main pet caregivers reported 14.1 (95% CI 2.79-25.3) and 19.0 (95% CI 4.70-33.3) more minutes per week of moderate- and vigorous-intensity physical activity respectively and higher SF-36 emotional well-being (β = 2.7, 95% CI 0.100-5.32) and energy scores (β = 3.8, 95% CI 0.410-7.27). Age was a significant effect modifier of the association between pet ownership and emotional well-being, energy and social functioning scores, with greater scores above the ages of 39, 35 and 39 years old respectively (interaction p = 0.043, 0.044, 0.042). Finally, pet acquisition was associated with worsening of allergic rhinitis, while pet ownership cessation was associated with improvement of allergic rhinitis and eczema symptoms. To our knowledge, this is the first study addressing the public health impact of pet ownership in Southeast Asia and its findings add contextual nuance to suggest potential benefits derived from pet ownership.
尽管现有文献越来越多地表明宠物拥有与人类身体活动水平呈正相关，但来自欧洲、美国和日本的许多研究结果并不一致。宠物拥有对心理健康和特应性的影响同样存在争议，不同的人口统计学亚组是否会产生不同的影响尚不清楚。本横断面研究通过在线自我管理问卷对参与者（n=823）进行了调查。在倾向评分匹配的子集中（n=566）对宠物主人和非宠物主人的结果进行了比较分析。宠物主人和非宠物主人的身体活动水平或心理健康评分没有差异。在亚组分析中，与非宠物主人相比，主要宠物照顾者报告每周分别有 14.1 分钟（95%置信区间 2.79-25.3）和 19.0 分钟（95%置信区间 4.70-33.3）的中高强度身体活动，SF-36 情绪健康（β=2.7，95%置信区间 0.100-5.32）和能量评分（β=3.8，95%置信区间 0.410-7.27）更高。年龄是宠物拥有与情绪健康、能量和社会功能评分之间关联的一个显著的效应修饰因子，随着年龄分别超过 39、35 和 39 岁，评分更高（交互作用 p=0.043、0.044、0.042）。最后，宠物获得与过敏性鼻炎恶化有关，而宠物拥有的终止与过敏性鼻炎和湿疹症状的改善有关。据我们所知，这是第一项在东南亚地区研究宠物拥有对公共卫生影响的研究，其研究结果增加了有关宠物拥有潜在益处的背景细微差别。
