Preliminary associations between pet ownership and mental health in youth with diabetes
Noa R. Mills, Erin K. King, Megan K. Mueller

TL;DR
This study explores if pet ownership affects mental health and diabetes outcomes in youth with diabetes, finding no significant mental health benefits but a possible link to geographic diabetes prevalence.
Contribution
The study is one of the first to examine geographic diabetes prevalence in relation to pet ownership among diabetic youth.
Findings
No significant association found between pet ownership and mental health outcomes in diabetic youth.
Preliminary evidence suggests a potential link between pet ownership and lower geographic diabetes prevalence.
A1C levels were explored but not conclusively linked to pet ownership due to small sample size.
Abstract
Youth with diabetes are at a higher risk for mental health challenges. Despite this awareness, there is much to learn how factors of a child’s environment, such as pet ownership, may promote better diabetes-related health outcomes. This study assessed if pet ownership in diabetic youth was associated with anxiety/depression, parental stress, and A1C, as well as if geographic prevalence of diabetes differed by pet ownership status. Data were obtained from the Adolescent Brain Cognitive Development (ABCD) Study, including participants with pet ownership data (n = 9,802). Primary analyses were conducted with a subsample of youth with diabetes (n = 80). There were no statistically significant relationships between pet ownership and anxiety/depression or parental stress. A1C levels among pet owners and non pet owners were explored (n = 10). In the full sample (n = 9,802), there was a…
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Taxonomy
TopicsHuman-Animal Interaction Studies · Diabetes Management and Education · Child Abuse and Trauma
