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Pets & Elders: A Review of the Positive Effect of Pets on Mental Health
- 1 Shanghai High School International Division
* Author to whom correspondence should be addressed.
Abstract
The improvement of mental health in older adults has become a significant area of research in response to the growth in the global population of older individuals. Thus, the paper evaluates the beneficial influence of pets on the mental well-being of older adults by synthesizing and analyzing data from over a dozen pertinent studies. Findings suggest that pets play a critical role in relieving stress, reducing loneliness and providing social support. In particular, the presence of pets has been linked to several benefits for human well-being, including the promotion of emotional stability, an increase in life satisfaction, as well as a strengthening of social support networks among older adults via increased social interaction and community involvement. However, despite the tremendous psychological benefits that pets bring to older adults, some challenges remain, such as the emotional impact of pet loss and potential health risks. This may affect the actual effectiveness of pet companionship and the overall well-being of older adults. As such, the paper recommends the inclusion of pets in geriatric care programs, and calls for long-term research to gain insights into the lasting effects of pets on the mental health of older adults and their potential for application. The paper aims to contribute to the development of more effective care strategies to boost the quality of life for older adults.
Keywords
Pets, Elders, Mental Health, Animal-Human Interaction, Therapeutic Pets
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Cite this article
Chow,E. (2024). Pets & Elders: A Review of the Positive Effect of Pets on Mental Health. Lecture Notes in Education Psychology and Public Media,77,1-6.
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Volume title: Proceedings of the 2nd International Conference on Global Politics and Socio-Humanities
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