Abstract
The global population of 1 billion people ≥ age 60 is expected to double by 2050, likely increasing the prevalence of age-related cognitive decline (Alzheimer’s Association, 2019). Examining biological, psychological, and social (biopsychosocial) factors and possible moderation by other critical factors, including neighborhood physical disorder (i.e., graffiti, litter, vandalism, safety) and cohesion (i.e., mutual trust/solidarity between neighbors), may inform development of targeted interventions to improve biopsychosocial and cognitive health. Human-animal interaction (HAI) has been found to improve health outcomes and may be a viable option to enhance biopsychosocial factors and delay cognitive decline in older adults (Gee et al., 2017). The purpose of this study was to utilize data from the 2010-2020 Health and Retirement Study (HRS) Core and the 2009-2019 HRS Consumption and Activities Mail Survey (CAMS) to examine the relationship between pet caretakers and non-pet caretakers’ biopsychosocial and cognitive health and the possible moderation by neighborhood disorder and social cohesion. Descriptive statistics summarized respondent characteristics (n= 1,499; Mage = 66.308; SD = 7.597; 86.5% White; 9.3% Black; 7% Hispanic). Longitudinal mixed model analyses were used to compare biopsychosocial (walking, self-rated health, depression, social relationships) and cognition (self-rated memory, vocabulary, numeracy, number series tasks) factors and to examine possible moderation by neighborhood factors (physical disorder and social cohesion) in pet caretakers and non-pet caretakers, while controlling for marital status, gender, race, educational level, smoking, drinking, BMI, diabetes mellitus, and hypertension. There was no significant relationship between the time spent walking, communicating with others, showing affection to others, helping others, being active with others, and cognition among these groups. However, pet caretakers were significantly more likely (p = .012) than non-pet caretakers to continue visiting others in person over time. Neighborhood factors did not moderate this effect. The study findings demonstrate the importance of pet caretaking in promoting in-person social connection among older adults. Nurses may leverage these findings to support meaningful practice and policy changes that support older adult pet caretakers who may benefit from this relationship.
Notes
References:
Alzheimer’s Association. (2019). Alzheimer’s disease facts and figures. [Ebook]. Chicago. Retrieved from https://alz.org/media/Documents/alzheimers-facts-andfigures-2019-r.pdf
Gee, N. R., Mueller, M. K., & Curl, A. L. (2017). Human-animal interaction and older adults: An overview. Frontiers in Psychology, 8, 1416. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyg.2017.01416
Sigma Membership
Iota Xi at-Large
Type
Presentation
Format Type
Text-based Document
Study Design/Type
Other
Research Approach
Other
Keywords:
Public Community Health, Sustainable Development Goals, Human-animal Interactions, Pet Caretakers, Healthy Aging, Cognitive Health
Recommended Citation
Pratt, Beth A. and Friedmann, Erika, "Healthy Aging and Pet Caretaking: Findings from the Health and Retirement Study" (2025). International Nursing Research Congress (INRC). 253.
https://www.sigmarepository.org/inrc/2025/presentations_2025/253
Conference Name
36th International Nursing Research Congress
Conference Host
Sigma Theta Tau International
Conference Location
Seattle, Washington, USA
Conference Year
2025
Rights Holder
All rights reserved by the author(s) and/or publisher(s) listed in this item record unless relinquished in whole or part by a rights notation or a Creative Commons License present in this item record.
Review Type
Abstract Review Only: Reviewed by Event Host
Acquisition
Proxy-submission
Healthy Aging and Pet Caretaking: Findings from the Health and Retirement Study
Seattle, Washington, USA
The global population of 1 billion people ≥ age 60 is expected to double by 2050, likely increasing the prevalence of age-related cognitive decline (Alzheimer’s Association, 2019). Examining biological, psychological, and social (biopsychosocial) factors and possible moderation by other critical factors, including neighborhood physical disorder (i.e., graffiti, litter, vandalism, safety) and cohesion (i.e., mutual trust/solidarity between neighbors), may inform development of targeted interventions to improve biopsychosocial and cognitive health. Human-animal interaction (HAI) has been found to improve health outcomes and may be a viable option to enhance biopsychosocial factors and delay cognitive decline in older adults (Gee et al., 2017). The purpose of this study was to utilize data from the 2010-2020 Health and Retirement Study (HRS) Core and the 2009-2019 HRS Consumption and Activities Mail Survey (CAMS) to examine the relationship between pet caretakers and non-pet caretakers’ biopsychosocial and cognitive health and the possible moderation by neighborhood disorder and social cohesion. Descriptive statistics summarized respondent characteristics (n= 1,499; Mage = 66.308; SD = 7.597; 86.5% White; 9.3% Black; 7% Hispanic). Longitudinal mixed model analyses were used to compare biopsychosocial (walking, self-rated health, depression, social relationships) and cognition (self-rated memory, vocabulary, numeracy, number series tasks) factors and to examine possible moderation by neighborhood factors (physical disorder and social cohesion) in pet caretakers and non-pet caretakers, while controlling for marital status, gender, race, educational level, smoking, drinking, BMI, diabetes mellitus, and hypertension. There was no significant relationship between the time spent walking, communicating with others, showing affection to others, helping others, being active with others, and cognition among these groups. However, pet caretakers were significantly more likely (p = .012) than non-pet caretakers to continue visiting others in person over time. Neighborhood factors did not moderate this effect. The study findings demonstrate the importance of pet caretaking in promoting in-person social connection among older adults. Nurses may leverage these findings to support meaningful practice and policy changes that support older adult pet caretakers who may benefit from this relationship.
Description
This session explores the relationship between pet caretaking and the biopsychosocial and cognitive health of older adults and possible moderation by neighborhood physical disorder/social cohesion. Longitudinal linear mixed model analyses indicated that pet caretakers were significantly more likely than non-pet caretakers to continue visiting others in person over time. Neighborhood factors did not moderate this effect. Potential implications for nursing practice and policy are discussed.