Dog Companionship and Loneliness in Community-Dwelling Older Adults: A Multicentre, Cross-Sectional Study

Loneliness and social isolation are major public health concerns among older adults and are associated with depression, cognitive decline, frailty, and loss of independence. Companion animals (and dogs in particular) might mitigate these adverse outcomes by fostering emotional support, physical activity, and social interactions. The objective of the present study aimed to evaluate the association between dog ownership and loneliness in community-dwelling older adults.

C-KDOG is a multicentre, cross-sectional study conducted between September 2020 and April 2023 at seven investigating centers in France. The participants were aged 75 or over and were living at home. Loneliness was assessed on the 11-item De Jong Gierveld Loneliness Scale. The secondary outcomes included emotional and social loneliness subscores, social isolation (according to the Social Network Index). Associations between dog ownership and loneliness were analyzed using multivariable linear regressions adjusted for sociodemographic, environmental and clinical characteristics.

A total of 160 participants were included, of whom 47 were dog owners (mean age: 82 years; females: 116 (73%); living alone: 79 (49%)). The median overall loneliness scores did not differ significantly when comparing dog owners and non-owners. In adjusted models, however, dog ownership was independently associated with lower loneliness. This association was mainly driven by a lower emotional loneliness subscore. Living alone, frailty, depressive symptoms, and sleep problems were independently associated with a greater level of loneliness. Dog ownership was primarily motivated by companionship (81%). Adverse events (such as falls or bites) were rare (5%).

Dog ownership was associated with a lower level of emotional loneliness among community-dwelling older adults, independently of living alone frailty and depression. Companion dogs might contribute to emotional well-being in older adults. However, longitudinal studies are needed to confirm causality.