title: The mediating effect of pet attachment support between loneliness and general health in older females living in the community.
abstract: The relationship between loneliness and general health was investigated in 159 older females living in the community. Pet attachment support, a variable tested as a mediator of this relationship, was examined also. Participants completed the Revised UCLA Loneliness Scale, a Pet Attachment scale, and the Psychological General Well-Being Schedule: general health subscale. A negative relationship between loneliness and general health decreased when controlling for pet attachment support as a coping mechanism. The findings from this study support that pet attachment support has a mediating effect on the relationship between loneliness and general health in this sample of older females. Implications for community health nurses and public policy are discussed.
authors.affiliation: College of Natural, Applied and Health Sciences, Kean University, Union, NJ 07083, USA. ckrausep@kean.edu
authors.forename: Cheryl A
authors.initials: CA
authors.lastname: Krause-Parello
mesh_terms: D000223:Adaptation, Psychological; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000818:Animals; D001294:Attitude to Health; D002415:Cats; D004285:Dogs; D005260:Female; D006304:Health Status; D001841:Human-Animal Bond; D006801:Humans; D008132:Loneliness / Q000523:psychology*; D008875:Middle Aged; D008960:Models, Psychological; D009515:New Jersey; D015404:Nursing Methodology Research; D012044:Regression Analysis; D012944:Social Support; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D014930:Women / Q000523:psychology*