The Effect of Companion Dog Adoption on Loneliness in Veterans With Posttraumatic Stress Disorder: An Exploratory Study

Rachel H. Adler; Casey L. Straud; Alan L. Peterson; Matthew D. Jeffreys; Erin P. Finley; Bonnie V. Beaver; Laurel A. Copeland; Stacey Young-McCaughan; Mistie D. Seawell; Courtney H. Bridgeman; Alison Hamilton; Emma L. Mata-Galan; Ana Luiza C. Allegretti; Jose M. Lara-Ruiz; Sybil Allison; D. Allen Donahue; Annette Martinez; Stephen L. Stern

doi:10.1037/trm0000494

The Effect of Companion Dog Adoption on Loneliness in Veterans With Posttraumatic Stress Disorder: An Exploratory Study

Rachel H. Adler, Casey L. Straud, Alan L. Peterson, Matthew D. Jeffreys, Erin P. Finley, Bonnie V. Beaver, Laurel A. Copeland, Stacey Young-McCaughan, Mistie D. Seawell, Courtney H. Bridgeman, Alison Hamilton, Emma L. Mata-Galan, Ana Luiza C. Allegretti, Jose M. Lara-Ruiz, Sybil Allison, D. Allen Donahue, Annette Martinez, Stephen L. Stern

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review

Abstract

This exploratory study is a secondary analysis of a pilot randomized trial (N = 19) that examined the impact of companion dog adoption on loneliness in military veterans in treatment for posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD). We randomized participants to immediate dog adoption from the Humane Society (n = 9) or a 3- month waitlist followed by dog adoption (n = 10) as an adjunct to PTSD care. We assessed loneliness using the UCLA-Loneliness Scale and semistructured interviews. Generalized linear mixed-effects regression models with repeated measures demonstrated greater reductions in loneliness following treatment in the dog adoption group compared to the waitlist (Mdiff = −11.18, p =.026; d = −1.20). Qualitative interviews found that participants who adopted a dog reported close bonds of companionship with their pets, increased social interactions, and improved emotional well-being. The findings of this study suggest that companion dog adoption used as an adjunctive treatment may help alleviate loneliness for veterans with PTSD.

Original language	English (US)
Journal	Traumatology
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1037/trm0000494
State	Accepted/In press - 2024

Keywords

companion dogs
loneliness
posttraumatic stress disorder
veterans

ASJC Scopus subject areas

General Nursing
Emergency Medicine
Public Health, Environmental and Occupational Health

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10.1037/trm0000494

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Adler, R. H., Straud, C. L., Peterson, A. L., Jeffreys, M. D., Finley, E. P., Beaver, B. V., Copeland, L. A., Young-McCaughan, S., Seawell, M. D., Bridgeman, C. H., Hamilton, A., Mata-Galan, E. L., Allegretti, A. L. C., Lara-Ruiz, J. M., Allison, S., Donahue, D. A., Martinez, A., & Stern, S. L. (Accepted/In press). The Effect of Companion Dog Adoption on Loneliness in Veterans With Posttraumatic Stress Disorder: An Exploratory Study. Traumatology. https://doi.org/10.1037/trm0000494

Adler, RH, Straud, CL , Peterson, AL , Jeffreys, MD , Finley, EP, Beaver, BV, Copeland, LA, Young-McCaughan, S, Seawell, MD, Bridgeman, CH, Hamilton, A, Mata-Galan, EL, Allegretti, ALC, Lara-Ruiz, JM, Allison, S, Donahue, DA, Martinez, A & Stern, SL 2024, 'The Effect of Companion Dog Adoption on Loneliness in Veterans With Posttraumatic Stress Disorder: An Exploratory Study', Traumatology. https://doi.org/10.1037/trm0000494

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title = "The Effect of Companion Dog Adoption on Loneliness in Veterans With Posttraumatic Stress Disorder: An Exploratory Study",

abstract = "This exploratory study is a secondary analysis of a pilot randomized trial (N = 19) that examined the impact of companion dog adoption on loneliness in military veterans in treatment for posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD). We randomized participants to immediate dog adoption from the Humane Society (n = 9) or a 3- month waitlist followed by dog adoption (n = 10) as an adjunct to PTSD care. We assessed loneliness using the UCLA-Loneliness Scale and semistructured interviews. Generalized linear mixed-effects regression models with repeated measures demonstrated greater reductions in loneliness following treatment in the dog adoption group compared to the waitlist (Mdiff = −11.18, p =.026; d = −1.20). Qualitative interviews found that participants who adopted a dog reported close bonds of companionship with their pets, increased social interactions, and improved emotional well-being. The findings of this study suggest that companion dog adoption used as an adjunctive treatment may help alleviate loneliness for veterans with PTSD.",

keywords = "companion dogs, loneliness, posttraumatic stress disorder, veterans",

author = "Adler, {Rachel H.} and Straud, {Casey L.} and Peterson, {Alan L.} and Jeffreys, {Matthew D.} and Finley, {Erin P.} and Beaver, {Bonnie V.} and Copeland, {Laurel A.} and Stacey Young-McCaughan and Seawell, {Mistie D.} and Bridgeman, {Courtney H.} and Alison Hamilton and Mata-Galan, {Emma L.} and Allegretti, {Ana Luiza C.} and Lara-Ruiz, {Jose M.} and Sybil Allison and Donahue, {D. Allen} and Annette Martinez and Stern, {Stephen L.}",

note = "Publisher Copyright: {\textcopyright} 2024 American Psychological Association",

year = "2024",

doi = "10.1037/trm0000494",

language = "English (US)",

journal = "Traumatology",

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AU - Jeffreys, Matthew D.

AU - Finley, Erin P.

AU - Beaver, Bonnie V.

AU - Copeland, Laurel A.

AU - Young-McCaughan, Stacey

AU - Seawell, Mistie D.

AU - Bridgeman, Courtney H.

AU - Hamilton, Alison

AU - Mata-Galan, Emma L.

AU - Allegretti, Ana Luiza C.

AU - Lara-Ruiz, Jose M.

AU - Allison, Sybil

AU - Donahue, D. Allen

AU - Martinez, Annette

AU - Stern, Stephen L.

PY - 2024

Y1 - 2024

N2 - This exploratory study is a secondary analysis of a pilot randomized trial (N = 19) that examined the impact of companion dog adoption on loneliness in military veterans in treatment for posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD). We randomized participants to immediate dog adoption from the Humane Society (n = 9) or a 3- month waitlist followed by dog adoption (n = 10) as an adjunct to PTSD care. We assessed loneliness using the UCLA-Loneliness Scale and semistructured interviews. Generalized linear mixed-effects regression models with repeated measures demonstrated greater reductions in loneliness following treatment in the dog adoption group compared to the waitlist (Mdiff = −11.18, p =.026; d = −1.20). Qualitative interviews found that participants who adopted a dog reported close bonds of companionship with their pets, increased social interactions, and improved emotional well-being. The findings of this study suggest that companion dog adoption used as an adjunctive treatment may help alleviate loneliness for veterans with PTSD.

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The Effect of Companion Dog Adoption on Loneliness in Veterans With Posttraumatic Stress Disorder: An Exploratory Study

Abstract

Keywords

ASJC Scopus subject areas

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