This cross-sectional study explored the relationship between pet ownership, attachment, and psychological health among community-dwelling senior citizens and evaluated the impact of the placement of an aquarium into a regional senior center. General health, depression, social support, pet attitudes, pet attachment, pet relationships, and attitudes about the aquarium were assessed among 104 members of a senior center.
Symptoms of depression were identified in 17.3% of the participants. Pets were a significant form of social support and attachment to pet owners. No significant relationship was observed between pet ownership, pet attachment, and psychological health. Positive health effects were reported among participants who observed the fish aquarium.
While the relationship between pet ownership, human-animal interactions, and psychological well-being remains unclear, it appears that older adults can benefit from animal-assisted activities and therapy programs. Animal-assisted activities and therapy programs may be useful adjunctive therapies for depression in community-dwelling senior citizens.
","abstract_html":"<p>This cross-sectional study explored the relationship between pet ownership, attachment, and psychological health among community-dwelling senior citizens and evaluated the impact of the placement of an aquarium into a regional senior center. General health, depression, social support, pet attitudes, pet attachment, pet relationships, and attitudes about the aquarium were assessed among 104 members of a senior center.</p><p>Symptoms of depression were identified in 17.3% of the participants. Pets were a significant form of social support and attachment to pet owners. No significant relationship was observed between pet ownership, pet attachment, and psychological health. Positive health effects were reported among participants who observed the fish aquarium.</p><p>While the relationship between pet ownership, human-animal interactions, and psychological well-being remains unclear, it appears that older adults can benefit from animal-assisted activities and therapy programs. Animal-assisted activities and therapy programs may be useful adjunctive therapies for depression in community-dwelling senior citizens.</p>","abstract_has_math":false,"creators":["Southerland, E. Marie"],"institution":null,"degree_name":"MPH (Master of Public Health)","degree_level":"Thesis - unrestricted","degree_discipline":"Public Health","degree_department":null,"school":null,"contributors":[],"advisors":[],"committee_chairs":[],"committee_members":[],"year":2007,"date_issued":"2007-05-05T07:00:00Z","date_published":"2007-05-05T07:00:00Z","updated_at":"2026-07-24T02:21:19Z","subjects":["depression","human-animal bond","human-animal interaction","pets","pet attachment","pet therapy","senior citizens","social support","Health Psychology","Psychology","Social and Behavioral Sciences"],"languages":[],"rights":["Copyright by the authors."],"rights_urls":[],"identifier_entries":[]},"links":{"outbound_url":"https://dc.etsu.edu/etd/2046","outbound_label":"Repository record","outbound_source":"dc:identifier"},"metadata_groups":[{"id":"people","label":"People","entries":[{"key":"dc:creator","label":"Author","values":["Southerland, E. Marie"]}]},{"id":"academic_context","label":"Academic Context","entries":[{"key":"dc:date.issued","label":"Date","values":["2007-05-05T07:00:00Z"]},{"key":"thesis:degree_discipline","label":"Discipline","values":["Public Health"]},{"key":"thesis:degree_level","label":"Degree Level","values":["Thesis - unrestricted"]},{"key":"thesis:degree_name","label":"Degree Name","values":["MPH (Master of Public Health)"]}]},{"id":"subjects_keywords","label":"Subjects and Keywords","entries":[{"key":"dc:subject","label":"Dc Subject","values":["depression","human-animal bond","human-animal interaction","pets","pet attachment","pet therapy","senior citizens","social support","Health Psychology","Psychology","Social and Behavioral Sciences"]}]},{"id":"language_rights","label":"Language and Rights","entries":[{"key":"dc:rights","label":"Dc Rights","values":["Copyright by the authors."]}]},{"id":"identifiers","label":"Identifiers","entries":[{"key":"dc:identifier","label":"Identifier","values":["https://dc.etsu.edu/context/etd/article/3407/viewcontent/SoutherlandE040507f.pdf","https://dc.etsu.edu/etd/2046"]}]},{"id":"additional","label":"Additional Metadata","entries":[{"key":"dc:description.abstract","label":"Abstract","values":["This cross-sectional study explored the relationship between pet ownership, attachment, and psychological health among community-dwelling senior citizens and evaluated the impact of the placement of an aquarium into a regional senior center. General health, depression, social support, pet attitudes, pet attachment, pet relationships, and attitudes about the aquarium were assessed among 104 members of a senior center.
Symptoms of depression were identified in 17.3% of the participants. Pets were a significant form of social support and attachment to pet owners. No significant relationship was observed between pet ownership, pet attachment, and psychological health. Positive health effects were reported among participants who observed the fish aquarium.
While the relationship between pet ownership, human-animal interactions, and psychological well-being remains unclear, it appears that older adults can benefit from animal-assisted activities and therapy programs. Animal-assisted activities and therapy programs may be useful adjunctive therapies for depression in community-dwelling senior citizens.
"]},{"key":"dc:title","label":"Title","values":["A Study of the Effects of Pet Ownership on Mental Health among Community-Dwelling Senior Citizens in Northeast Tennessee."]}]}],"canonical_facts":{"dc:creator":["Southerland, E. Marie"],"dc:date.issued":["2007-05-05T07:00:00Z"],"dc:description.abstract":["This cross-sectional study explored the relationship between pet ownership, attachment, and psychological health among community-dwelling senior citizens and evaluated the impact of the placement of an aquarium into a regional senior center. General health, depression, social support, pet attitudes, pet attachment, pet relationships, and attitudes about the aquarium were assessed among 104 members of a senior center.
Symptoms of depression were identified in 17.3% of the participants. Pets were a significant form of social support and attachment to pet owners. No significant relationship was observed between pet ownership, pet attachment, and psychological health. Positive health effects were reported among participants who observed the fish aquarium.
While the relationship between pet ownership, human-animal interactions, and psychological well-being remains unclear, it appears that older adults can benefit from animal-assisted activities and therapy programs. Animal-assisted activities and therapy programs may be useful adjunctive therapies for depression in community-dwelling senior citizens.
"],"dc:identifier":["https://dc.etsu.edu/context/etd/article/3407/viewcontent/SoutherlandE040507f.pdf","https://dc.etsu.edu/etd/2046"],"dc:rights":["Copyright by the authors."],"dc:subject":["depression","human-animal bond","human-animal interaction","pets","pet attachment","pet therapy","senior citizens","social support","Health Psychology","Psychology","Social and Behavioral Sciences"],"dc:title":["A Study of the Effects of Pet Ownership on Mental Health among Community-Dwelling Senior Citizens in Northeast Tennessee."],"thesis:degree_discipline":["Public Health"],"thesis:degree_level":["Thesis - unrestricted"],"thesis:degree_name":["MPH (Master of Public Health)"]},"updated_at":"2026-07-24T02:21:19Z"}