Penn Vet Recruiting Dog Owners for Survey Measuring the Effects of Dog Ownership on Quality of Life |
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Does owning a dog improve one’s quality of life? Experts in Penn Vet’s Cardiology Service, in partnership with HUP researchers, are now validating a survey designed to answer this question.
Up to 300 dog owners are needed to respond to the Dog Owner Quality of Life Survey, which concentrates on ten different aspects of everyday life that are important to dogs and their owners and how they might positively or negatively affect quality of life. Responses will enable researchers to fine-tune the survey before making it more widely available.
“There are relatively few studies looking at the potential effects, both positive and negative, of pet ownership on humans,” said Mark Oyama, professor of cardiology at Penn Vet. “We’re looking forward to better understanding the effects of dog ownership, intervention and animal-assisted therapy on quality of life.”
Previous studies have shown that a variety of physical health benefits are associated with dog ownership, including increased physical activity, decreased blood pressure and increased survival following cardiac surgery. Studies have also shown that dog ownership is associated with psychological benefits, including decreased anxiety and social isolation and improved self-esteem and social support. Relatively few studies have examined the effect of dog ownership on overall quality of life or tried to balance the potentially positive aspects of ownership with more negative aspects, such as increased responsibility or damage to property or belongings.
Dog owners interested in taking the Dog Owner Quality of Life Survey can access it at https://redcap.med.upenn.edu/surveys/?s=4KuXHdJjHp Participants will be asked to provide general information, including their birth year, zip code and home environment. No specific identifying information, such as their name or address, will be collected. The survey takes less than ten minutes. There is no compensation for participation.
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