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One group
of researchers first characterized the resident population in long-term care
facilities desiring pet-facilitated therapy and then determined whether the
therapy objectively improved loneliness. For this survey study, the researchers
used the UCLA Loneliness Scale. The first conclusion was that the desire for
pet therapy strongly correlates with previous pet ownership. The second
conclusion was that pet-facilitated therapy does, in fact, reduce loneliness in
residents of long-term care facilities. (Banks, 2002).
A study of patients with dementia
demonstrated that three weeks of animal-assisted therapy resulted in decreases
in agitation and increases in social interaction. The researchers used the
Cohen-Mansfield Agitation Inventory and the Animal-Assisted Therapy Flow Sheet (Richeson,
2003).
Another study of elderly patients with
chronic, age-related disabilities showed a trend toward less irritability in
patients who received an hour daily of pet therapy for a week, although the
result was not statistically significant. Women had a significant decrease
in irritability whether they were in the pet therapy group or an exercise
therapy group (Zisselman, 1996).
Children with pervasive developmental
disorders became more playful, more focused and more aware of their
environment in the presence of a dog compared with a ball or a stuffed dog in
one study of prosocial and nonsocial interactions (Farnum, 2002).
However, not all
studies have agreed on the role of pet ownership and human health. In one
study, researchers analyzed Medicare data to determine whether pet ownership by
elderly people is associated with lower use of health services. The researchers
found that elderly pet owners did not differ from non-owners on any of the
physical or mental health measures or in the use of health services. They
concluded that the claim that pet ownership leads to savings in health services
should be viewed with caution (Jorm, 1997).
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