Merkouri Aikaterini, Graham Taryn M, O'Haire Marguerite Elizabeth, Purewal Rebecca, Westgarth Carri
School of Veterinary Science, Institute of Infection, Veterinary and Ecological Sciences, University of Liverpool, Neston, United Kingdom.
Department of Livestock and One Health, Institute of Infection, Veterinary and Ecological Sciences, University of Liverpool, Neston, United Kingdom.
Front Psychol. 2022 Jul 18;13:903647. doi: 10.3389/fpsyg.2022.903647. eCollection 2022.
Dog ownership is believed to benefit owner wellbeing but, contrary to popular belief, there is limited evidence to suggest that simply owning a dog is associated with improved mental health. This mixed-methods study investigates whether dog owners with stronger relationships with their dogs experience better mental health. Participants ( = 1,693, adult United Kingdom dog owners) completed an online survey. Owners' health was measured using the validated PROMIS questions regarding depression, anxiety, emotional support, and companionship. The dog-owner relationship was measured using the validated MDORS scale, which has three subscales: interaction, emotional closeness, and perceived costs. Univariable and multivariable linear regression analyses were conducted, adjusting for confounding factors. Additionally, positive and negative impacts of dog ownership on mental wellbeing were coded from open questions using thematic analysis. A stronger dog-owner relationship was associated with greater feelings of emotional support and companionship but poorer mental health in terms of anxiety or depression. However, the perceived costs (burden) subscale was consistently associated with better mental health outcomes. Direction of causality cannot be inferred as people with poor mental health may acquire dogs to help relieve symptoms, which qualitative analysis supported. Key themes included positive impacts on owner wellbeing and happiness through providing purpose, companionship and self-acceptance, pleasure and distraction, as well as lessening emotional pain and suffering and reducing risk behaviors. However, negative impacts of a strong relationship include anticipatory grief over loss of the dog, and concerns regarding the burden of responsibility and ability to meet dog's needs. Perceived ability to adequately meet dog's needs promoted personal growth and positive relationships with others, whereas perceived inability led to feelings of guilt, or anger/frustration, and reduced autonomy and sense of environmental mastery. Dog ownership contributes to both hedonic and eudaimonic wellbeing in multiple ways, including supporting owners through periods of poor mental health and providing purpose. However, the burden of responsibility and owner and dog characteristics can create challenges, and owners may benefit from support in caring for their dogs and reducing problematic behaviors.
人们认为养狗有益于主人的健康，但与普遍看法相反的是，几乎没有证据表明仅仅养一只狗就能改善心理健康。这项混合方法研究调查了与狗关系更亲密的狗主人是否心理健康状况更好。参与者（n = 1693，英国成年养狗者）完成了一项在线调查。使用经过验证的有关抑郁、焦虑、情感支持和陪伴的PROMIS问题来衡量主人的健康状况。使用经过验证的MDORS量表来衡量狗主人之间的关系，该量表有三个子量表：互动、情感亲密和感知成本。进行了单变量和多变量线性回归分析，并对混杂因素进行了调整。此外，通过主题分析从开放性问题中梳理出养狗对心理健康的积极和消极影响。狗主人之间更强的关系与更多的情感支持和陪伴感相关，但在焦虑或抑郁方面心理健康状况较差。然而，感知成本（负担）子量表始终与更好的心理健康结果相关。由于心理健康状况不佳的人可能会养狗来帮助缓解症状，因此无法推断因果关系方向，定性分析也支持了这一点。关键主题包括通过提供目标、陪伴和自我接纳、愉悦和分散注意力，以及减轻情感痛苦和减少风险行为，对主人的健康和幸福产生积极影响。然而，紧密关系的负面影响包括对狗失去的预期悲伤，以及对责任负担和满足狗需求能力的担忧。感知到有能力充分满足狗的需求促进了个人成长和与他人的积极关系，而感知到无能力则导致内疚感、愤怒/沮丧感，并降低自主性和环境掌控感。养狗通过多种方式促进享乐主义和幸福主义的幸福，包括在心理健康不佳时期支持主人并提供目标。然而，责任负担以及主人和狗的特征可能会带来挑战，主人可能会从照顾狗和减少问题行为方面的支持中受益。
