

There were no significant differences in strength of attachment to pets nor income between the younger and older respondents. Results: Older adults, on average, reported lower levels of social support and less loneliness than respondents below age 65. Using thematic and content analysis, we analyzed two open-ended prompts from age 65+ respondents ( n = 122): (1) the pros and cons of living with pets during the pandemic, and (2) advice for those living with pets in future pandemics.

We conducted bivariate analyses to compare levels of social support, loneliness, pet attachment, and family income for a subset of older adults (ages 65 and older) with a younger comparison group (ages 18–64). pet owners ( n = 2,068) was administered to assess the impact of relationships with pets during COVID-19 on human health and well-being. We aimed to investigate how pets impacted the everyday lives of older adults in the early stages of the COVID-19 pandemic. have pets while pets may be a source of support, they could also pose unique challenges during an already trying time.

It is estimated that at least 50% of older adults in the U.S. Purpose: The social and behavioral health of older adults is of particular concern during the COVID-19 pandemic.
