SynthesisInternational journal of geriatric psychiatry2022
Dog ownership and mental health among community-dwelling older adults: A systematic review.
Synthesis in International journal of geriatric psychiatry, 2022. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 7 papers, 2 of them syntheses that pooled it.
What it found
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The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.
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.
Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.
Who cites it
7 citing papers in PubMed, 2 syntheses or guidelines pooled it, 18 citations in OpenAlex.
- Quantitative and qualitative analysis of the effects of human-animal interactions on health and well-being of older adults: an umbrella review.BMC geriatrics · 2026Pooled it
- Dog ownership and mental health among community-dwelling older adults: A systematic review.International journal of geriatric psychiatry · 2022Pooled it
- Pet Ownership, Depression, Anxiety, Well-Being, and Cognitive Functioning in Older Adults: Cross-Sectional Study.JMIR formative research · 2026Article
- Association between dog ownership and mental health among community-dwelling older adults: a cross-sectional study.Frontiers in public health · 2026Article
- Pet ownership and risk of depression: a systematic review and meta-analysis.Annals of general psychiatry · 2025Article
- Beyond companionship: psycho-social benefits of pet ownership.BMC public health · 2025Article
- Peer bonds and nature's embrace: exploring the influence of pet caregiving on social well-being and nature connection among Taiwanese children.Frontiers in public health · 2024Article
Corrections and comments
PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.
Authors and funding
6 authors at 1 institution in 1 country.
Funding
No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.
Abstract
backgroundThe population is ageing, and psychiatric disorders are common in older people. Those are associated with worsened quality of life. Although the positive relationship between dog ownership and physical health has been documented, data on mental health are scarcer, especially in community-dwelling older adults.
objectiveWe sought to establish whether owning a dog was associated with a lower number of symptoms of psychological disorders in community-dwelling older adults.
methodsWe conducted a systematic review of the literature published between January 2005 and December 2020. We analysed comparative studies of the level of insomnia and symptoms of depression and/or anxiety among community-dwelling dog owners aged 70 and over.
resultsThe search identified 191 articles, of which 117 full texts were assessed for eligibility. Five cross-sectional studies and one before-after with control group study (assessing a total of 25,138 older adults) were included. The mean (range) NOS score (five studies) was 6.8/9 (5-9) and the EPOC score (one study) was 2/8. The association between the presence of a dog and depressive symptoms did not appear to be significant. Regular contact with a dog was associated with fewer symptoms of anxiety. None of the studies specifically examined sleep disorders.
conclusionsAlthough the presence of a dog did not appear to be related to the level of depressive symptoms among community-dwelling older adults, there might be a beneficial relationship with anxiety. Further investigation is needed - especially with regard to the type of dog and the type of relationship with the dog.
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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.