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Differences in Self-Esteem Between Cat Owners, Dog Owners, and Individuals Without Pets
Claudia Schulz1, Hans-Helmut König1, André Hajek1
1Department of Health Economics and Health Services Research, University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, Hamburg, Germany.
Frontiers in Veterinary Science
|September 28, 2020
Summary
Dog owners, particularly men, reported higher self-esteem. Conversely, female cat owners showed lower self-esteem compared to non-pet owners. Further research is needed to understand these associations.
Area of Science:
- Gerontology
- Psychology
- Sociology
Background:
- Pet ownership is linked to social support and self-esteem.
- Self-esteem is crucial for psychological well-being and is associated with depressive symptoms.
- Limited research exists on the relationship between pet ownership and self-esteem.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate differences in self-esteem among cat owners, dog owners, and non-pet owners.
- To analyze these differences in the total sample and stratified by sex.
- To explore the association between pet ownership and self-esteem in adults aged 40 and above.
Main Methods:
- Utilized data from the German Aging Survey (wave 5), a nationally representative sample.
- Employed the Rosenberg Self-Esteem Scale to measure self-esteem.
- Conducted multiple linear regression analyses, adjusting for socioeconomic, lifestyle, and health factors (n=5,485).
Main Results:
- Dog owners reported significantly higher self-esteem than non-pet owners (β = 0.04, p < 0.05).
- Male dog owners showed higher self-esteem compared to men without pets (β = 0.07, p < 0.01).
- Female cat owners reported lower self-esteem than women without pets (β = -0.07, p < 0.01).
Conclusions:
- Findings indicate a positive association between dog ownership and self-esteem in the general population and men.
- A negative association was observed between cat ownership and self-esteem in women.
- Further investigation into underlying mechanisms and longitudinal studies are recommended to understand animal ownership's impact on self-esteem.
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