COMPANION ANIMALS AND THE PSYCHOLOGICAL HEALTH OF ALZHEIMER PATIENTS CAREGIVERS

A sample of 244 persons in northern California who provided care for i ndividuals with possible or probable Alzheimer's disease was studied t o examine the effect of association with companion animals on three in dices of psychological health. 124 caregivers had regular contact with pets; 120 caregivers did not. Men who were attached to dogs scored be tter on some measures of psychological health than did men who had no pets. Women less than 40 years old who were attached to cats scored be tter on some measures of psychological health than did the same-age wo men who had no pets. Women aged 40 to 59 years who were attached to do gs scored worse on measures of life satisfaction and depression than d id the same-age women who had no pets. The data suggested a positive i ndirect effect on caregivers' mental health through interaction betwee n the pet and the patient, but small strata numbers precluded definiti ve conclusions. Association with pets appeared to temper some of the p sychological stress associated with caring for a cognitively impaired adult among young female and male caregivers but not among middle-aged female caregivers.