Pet Ownership and Multiple Sclerosis during COVID-19

Area of Science:

• Neurology
• Psychology
• Public Health

Background:

• Multiple sclerosis (MS) negatively impacts quality of life, social participation, and self-efficacy.
• The COVID-19 pandemic has affected the health and well-being of individuals with and without MS.
• Previous research indicates pets positively influence individuals with chronic conditions.

Purpose of the Study:

• To assess pet ownership and attachment levels in people with MS.
• To examine associations between pet ownership and quality of life, social role satisfaction, and self-efficacy in MS patients.
• To explore the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on human-pet relationships.

Main Methods:

• A postal questionnaire was administered to individuals with MS and a control group.
• The survey collected data on quality of life, social role satisfaction, self-efficacy, perceived pet roles, and pandemic-related pet concerns.
• Statistical analyses, including multiple regression, were used to evaluate the data.

Main Results:

• No significant differences in pet attachment were observed between MS patients and controls.
• Pet ownership and attachment levels did not correlate with quality of life or self-efficacy in the MS group.
• Pet ownership was associated with a small decrease in social role satisfaction, while pets were perceived as beneficial during the pandemic. Access to veterinary care was a primary concern.

Conclusions:

• Individuals with and without MS reported psychological benefits from pet ownership during the COVID-19 pandemic.
• Pet ownership showed a correlation with reduced satisfaction in social roles among people with MS.
• The study highlights the subjective well-being benefits of pets during health crises, despite potential impacts on social engagement.