Researchers have found that the companionship of a pet after the loss of a mate can help reduce feelings of depression and loneliness in older adults. The study examined depressive symptoms and loneliness in people aged 50 and older who experienced the loss of a partner through death or divorce.
The researchers compared individuals who had experienced the loss of a partner with those who remained continuously married. They then examined whether the effects of the loss of a spouse differed for those who had a pet at the time of death or divorce.
They found that all individuals who lost their partner experienced higher levels of depression. However, people without pets experienced a more significant increase in depressive symptoms and higher loneliness than people who had pets. In fact, those who had a pet and experienced the death or separation of their spouse were no lonelier than older adults who had experienced none of those events.
