ArticleBMC public health2019
Companion dog acquisition and mental well-being: a community-based three-arm controlled study.
Article in BMC public health, 2019. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 42 papers, 1 of them a synthesis that pooled it.
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The trial behind it
Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.
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Who cites it
42 citing papers in PubMed, 1 synthesis or guideline pooled it, 92 citations in OpenAlex.
- Public acceptance of policy measures to prevent and combat infectious diseases in pets: a systematic literature review.Frontiers in veterinary science · 2025Pooled it
- Human-animal interaction: understanding the role of dog and cat interactions in emotional wellbeing.Frontiers in psychology · 2026Article
- From bond to guardianship: a serial mediation model explaining how the human-pet bond protects against pet relinquishment.Frontiers in veterinary science · 2026Article
- Animal-assisted resilience in space exploration: a human factors approach to astronaut behavioral health.Frontiers in psychology · 2026Article
- Can Pets Prevent Suicide? The Impact of Companion Animals on Suicidality: Scoping Review and Clinical Recommendations.Healthcare (Basel, Switzerland) · 2025Review
- 'he's not just a dog… he's something bigger… my family.' A Qualitative Study on Dog Ownership and Emotional Well-Being.Healthcare (Basel, Switzerland) · 2025Article
- Animal Video Lovers Always Have Company: The Role of Cyber-Mediated Animal Attachment in Loneliness.Animals : an open access journal from MDPI · 2025Article
- Preliminary Effectiveness of a Companion Dog Whole Health Intervention for Improving Balance and Gait Quality in Veterans.Military medicine · 2025Article
- Short-term effects of pet acquisition and loss on well-being in an unbiased sample during the COVID-19 pandemic.Scientific reports · 2025Article
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- Development and validation of the puppy blues scale measuring temporary affective disturbance resembling baby blues.Npj mental health research · 2024Article
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- Breast cancer treatment and recovery: pets' roles as emotional buffers and stressors.BMC women's health · 2023Article
- Understanding the Motivations of Foster Caregivers at Animal Shelters.Animals : an open access journal from MDPI · 2023Article
- The Role of Human-Animal Bonds for People Experiencing Crisis Situations.Animals : an open access journal from MDPI · 2023Article
- A mixed methods exploration of a pilot photo-reflection intervention for enhancing coping and well-being during COVID-19.The Arts in psychotherapy · 2023Article
- Ticks Infesting Dogs in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Pakistan: Detailed Epidemiological and Molecular Report.Pathogens (Basel, Switzerland) · 2023Article
- Pet ownership and survival of European older adults.European journal of ageing · 2022Article
- US Adults' Perceptions of Dog Breed Bans, Dog Aggression and Breed-Specific Laws.International journal of environmental research and public health · 2022Article
- Cat-Owner Relationship and Cat Behaviour: Effects of the COVID-19 Confinement and Implications for Feline Management.Veterinary sciences · 2022Article
Corrections and comments
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Authors and funding
8 authors at 1 institution in 1 country.
Funding
Abstract
backgroundDog ownership is suggested to improve mental well-being, although empirical evidence among community dog owners is limited. This study examined changes in human mental well-being following dog acquisition, including four measures: loneliness, positive and negative affect, and psychological distress.
methodsWe conducted an eight-month controlled study involving three groups (n = 71): 17 acquired a dog within 1 month of baseline (dog acquisition); 29 delayed dog acquisition until study completion (lagged control); and 25 had no intentions of acquiring a dog (community control). All participants completed the UCLA Loneliness Scale (possible scores 0-60), Positive and Negative Affect Schedule and Kessler10 at baseline, three-months and eight-months. We used repeated measures ANCOVAs to analyse data with owner age and sex included as covariates. Post-hoc tests were performed for significant effects (p < 0.05).
resultsThere was a statistically significant group by time interaction for loneliness (p = 0.03), with an estimated reduction of 8.41 units (95% CI -16.57, - 0.26) from baseline to three-months and 7.12 (95% CI -12.55, - 1.69) from baseline to eight-months in the dog acquisition group. The group by time interaction for positive affect was also significant (p = 0.03), although there was no change in the dog acquisition group.
conclusionsCompanion dog acquisition may reduce loneliness among community dog owners. Our study provides useful direction for future larger trials on the effects of dog ownership on human mental well-being.
trial registrationThis trial was retrospectively registered on 5th July 2017 with the Australian New Zealand Clinical Trials Registry ( ACTRN12617000967381 ).
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Registered trials
Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.