Predictors of Interest in Participation in an Animal-Assisted Activity Program among Elderly Citizens

Abstract

Animal-Assisted Activity Programs have been shown to improve physiological and mental health outcomes among program participants. The purpose of this study was to assess the significance of gender, depression, and companion animal attitudes as predictors of interest in participation in an animal-assisted activity program. The participants were 62 residents (average age 82 years) at assisted-living centers who responded to survey measures including the Pet Attitude Scale (pas), Center for Epidemiological Studies Depression Scale (ces-d), and a newly developed scale to measure interest in an animal assisted activity program. Pet attitudes and gender significantly predicted willingness to participate in the program. These results provide a contribution to the literature, which has not yet documented predictors of interest in participation in such a program among elderly citizens.