AIDS diagnosis and depression in the Multicenter AIDS Cohort Study: the ameliorating impact of pet ownership

The impact of pet ownership on depression was tested among a sample of gay and bisexual men (n = 1,872). Multivariate analyses, controlling for demogr aphics and baseline depressive symptomatology, showed that neither pet owne rship nor the presence of HIV infection was associated with depression. Dep ression was influenced by the presence of AIDS and by having relatively few confidants. Analyses among HIV-infected melt only showed that persons with AIDS who owned pets reported less depression than persons with AIDS who di d not own pets. This beneficial effect of pet ownership occurred principall y among persons who reported fewer confidants. These results suggest that b y enhancing companionship for some HIV-infected persons, pets may buffer th e stressful impact of AIDS.