2010 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

Effects of companion animals on mental health among the elderly

Research Project

Project/Area Number	20530625
Research Category	Grant-in-Aid for Scientific Research (C)
Allocation Type	Single-year Grants
Section	一般
Research Field	Clinical psychology
Research Institution	Yokohama National University
Principal Investigator	ANDO Takatoshi Yokohama National University, 教育人間科学部, 教授 (00202789)
Research Collaborator	ASAHINA Chie 横浜国立大学, 環境情報学府, 博士課程後期
Project Period (FY)	2008 – 2010
Keywords	コンパニオン・アニマル / ペットロス / 精神的健康 / 高齢者
Research Abstract	Positive and negative aspects of everyday relationships between elderly people and companion animals, which are increasingly considered to be family members, were investigated in relation to dogs. The results indicated that as a person becomes older, the emotional bond between the owner and the dog becomes weaker. In general, after one year, the bond between the owner and the dog became relatively weak. Furthermore, an interview survey was conducted with elderly people who had lost their dogs within the last year. Results indicated three categories specific to elderly people : (1) relationship with the lost pet, (2) keeping pets in the future, (3) reason for not keeping pets. Above findings are considered to be useful for understand the circumstances related to pet lose in old age.