Effects Of Pet Dogs On The Empty Nester Elder

Objects: To investigate the influence of pet dogs on the empty nester elders.Methods Object: A simple of 314 elders which randomization and stratification by age was drawn from four districts of Dalian, including 102 males and 212 females, 157 of them breed pet dogs as study group. Methods SF-36 (Short Form 36 Health Survey Questionnaire), MUNSH (Memorial University of Newfoundland Scale of Happiness), LES (Life Event Scale), PSSS (Perceived social support scale), NEO-FFI (NEO Personality Inventory Short Form) and LAPS (Lexington Attachment to Pets Scale) were employed as research tools. Statistics t-test, Chi-square test, Mann-Whitney-Wilcoxon rank sum test, Pearson correlation, and Multiple Linear Regression were used to analyze the data.Results:⑴There were significant differences between pet-owners and non-owners in perception of out-family support, perception of social support, agreeableness of NEO-FFI. There were no significant differences between pet-owners and non-owners in LES. There were differences between them in physiological operation, physiological function, spirit, social function, emotional function and reported health transition, pet-owners group were better than non-owner group in these aspects.⑵There were positive correlations between Attachment to Pets Scales and perception of social support, Attachment to Pets Scales and extraversion of NEO-FFI, Attachment to Pets Scales and openness of NEO-FFI.⑶Multiple Linear Regressions: There was a close relationship between pet-breed behavior and physiological operation, physiological function, social function, emotional function and reported health transition. So pet-breed behavior could be a good positive forecast factor for physiological health. Conclusion:1. The pet-breed empty nester elders are less in agreeableness of personality.2. The pet-breed empty nester elders are less in perception of out-family support.3. The pet-breed empty nester elder are better in quality of life than common nester elder; The pet-breed behavior can improve empty nester's quality of life.