Social Support and Resting Blood Pressure Among Young and Elderly Women: The Moderating Role of Pet Dogs and Cats. K. Allen, A. Gross, & J. Izzo, Jr.. (Paper presented at a confernce of the American Psychosomatic Society). Psychosomatic Medicine, 1997, 59, 94.
This study explored the effects of social support (human vs. pet animal) on age-related changes in resting blood pressure in 100 women. Participants were 50 young women (mean age 25) and 50 elderly women (mean age 70). All were non-smokers and had normal blood pressure. 25 in each group had a pet cat or dog to which they reported being very attached. The other 25 in each group did not currently have a pet, nor had they had one in their adult lives.
The study took place over a 6-month period. At the outset, participants completed questionnaires about social support, pet attitudes and health locus of control. Measurements of heart rate, systolic blood pressure were made at weeks 4, 12, and 24 during visits to participants own home; heart rate and blood pressure were recorded every 5 minutes over a 40 minute period. Pet owning participants had their pet with them throughout the experiment.
Significant interactions (p<.001) were found between age and appraisal support (having someone to confide in) and age and esteem support, and also between age, pet ownership and blood pressure. Older participants with pets (and low levels of human social support) had blood pressure readings similar to younger subjects with high levels of human support, suggesting that for people with few human friends and contacts, pets can play a useful role in moderating the effect of aging on blood pressure.
