Pet Ownership and Maintenance of Physical Function in Older Adults-Evidence From the Baltimore Longitudinal Study of Aging (BLSA).

ABSTRACT:

Background and objectives

Pet ownership or human-animal interaction has been associated with better health outcomes in individuals with disease or disability. We hypothesized that pet ownership, as well as dog ownership and cat ownership separately, are associated with maintaining physical function, and leisure time physical activity and that among dog owners, dog walking is associated with maintaining these outcomes for generally healthy community-dwelling older adults participating in the Baltimore Longitudinal Study of Aging.

Research design and methods

A total of 637 men (44.1%) and women aged 50-100 years (M = 68.3, standard deviation [SD] = 9.6) completed a comprehensive pet ownership questionnaire that ascertained pet ownership history 10-13 years and ha

SUBMITTER: Friedmann E 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC10006577 | biostudies-literature | 2023

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature