A presentation by Sakshi Kalani Companion animals Mental health A - - PowerPoint PPT Presentation

A presentation by Sakshi Kalani

 Companion animals  Mental health

• “A state of well-being” (WHO, 2011)
• Resilience/flourishing: “[Being able to] cope with

the normal stresses of life” (WHO, 2011)

• Broad concept

 What is already known

• Literature
• Current events

What we know

Physiological health:

• Dogs lower blood pressure

and heart rate (relaxation)

• Adults and small

children

• Dog owner are more likely

to be physically active

Social health:

• Animals help build

rapport during therapy

• Animal improve social

interaction of older adults

Mental health:

• Cats improve depressed

moods

• Animals reduce depression

in HIV patients

 The quality of evidence is weak!

• Lack of RCTs and longitudinal studies
• Small sample sizes (limited generalisability)
• Very few studies are replicated
• Uncontrolled confounding variables

 Very few studies explore mental health

benefits of companion animals for young people

 Introduction of puppy rooms to relieve

exam stress

"Obviously puppies are really cool because animals de-stress you” (Fairfax Media, 2013)

 Is there a relationship?

• If yes, then what does this relationship look like?
• Is this relationship stronger for some animals than
• thers?

 Does the time spent with the animal account

for variance in mental health?

 What are the benefits and harms interacting

with a companion animal?

 My research paradigm

Objectivism (epistemology) Post-positivism (theoretical perspective) Quantitative survey research (methodology)

 Sampling method:

• Convenience sampling

▪ All secondary schools in Auckland were emailed and invited to participate in the research ▪ The study was advertised in newsletters, notices and during assemblies to year 13 students

 Demographic information  WHOQQOL-BREF  Formed a new scale with

questions related to human-animal interaction

• Information about the

companion animal

• Reasons for having the

companion animal

• Activities carried out
• Positives and negatives

Summary statistics

 8 Auckland schools and

69 students participated

 40 females and 21 males  Average age was 17

years

 Most common pets

were cats and dogs

 Students with and without a

companion animals scored similarly on the four WHOQOL domains:

• Physical
• Social
• Environmental
• Mental

 Relationships with each

animal are yet to be assessed

 Students with companion animals have

similar mental health to those without companion animals

STRENGTHS

 WHOQOL-BREF

• Helps control confounding

factors such as physical, social and environmental health

LIMITATIONS

 Small sample size

• Limited generalisability to

students in New Zealand

 Future studies should have large sample size  Intervention studies should be carried out