{"status":"ok","message-type":"work","message-version":"1.0.0","message":{"indexed":{"date-parts":[[2026,10,22]],"date-time":"2026-10-22T10:02:43Z","timestamp":1792663363388,"version":"4.5.0"},"reference-count":38,"publisher":"SAGE Publications","issue":"3","license":[{"start":{"date-parts":[[2020,7,23]],"date-time":"2020-07-23T00:00:00Z","timestamp":1595462400000},"content-version":"unspecified","delay-in-days":0,"URL":"https:\/\/creativecommons.org\/licenses\/by-nc\/4.0\/"}],"content-domain":{"domain":["journals.sagepub.com"],"crossmark-restriction":true},"short-container-title":["Int J Soc Psychiatry"],"published-print":{"date-parts":[[2021,5]]},"abstract":"<jats:sec>\n                    <jats:title>Background:<\/jats:title>\n                    <jats:p>The COVID-19 pandemic has resulted in many countries enforcing a \u2018lockdown\u2019, whereby people are instructed to stay at home.<\/jats:p>\n                  <\/jats:sec>\n                  <jats:sec>\n                    <jats:title>Aim:<\/jats:title>\n                    <jats:p>The aim of this study was to capture the experience of such a lockdown in Australians living alone, with and without a dog or a cat.<\/jats:p>\n                  <\/jats:sec>\n                  <jats:sec>\n                    <jats:title>Method:<\/jats:title>\n                    <jats:p>Three hundred and eighty-four participants completed an online survey evaluating their levels of loneliness, mindfulness and mood. For participants who owned a dog or a cat, a measure of dog\/cat interactions was also administered as well as two open-ended questions about how being a pet owner affected their experience of COVID-19 and how COVID-19 affected their pet.<\/jats:p>\n                  <\/jats:sec>\n                  <jats:sec>\n                    <jats:title>Results:<\/jats:title>\n                    <jats:p>Contrary to expectations, cat owners were found to be less mindful than non-owners and pet interactions did not account for levels of loneliness or levels of mindfulness. In line with our expectations, however, stress and depression positively predicted loneliness, while mindfulness and being a dog owner were protective against it. Insights from qualitative responses suggest that this might be due to the fact that dogs encourage a routine which involves getting out of the house and walking, which itself offers opportunities to socialise with other people doing the same thing.<\/jats:p>\n                  <\/jats:sec>\n                  <jats:sec>\n                    <jats:title>Conclusion:<\/jats:title>\n                    <jats:p>These findings add to the emerging literature on mental well-being during a lockdown and the unique role that pets play in their owners\u2019 experiences.<\/jats:p>\n                  <\/jats:sec>","DOI":"10.1177\/0020764020944195","type":"journal-article","created":{"date-parts":[[2020,7,23]],"date-time":"2020-07-23T09:32:02Z","timestamp":1595496722000},"page":"232-242","update-policy":"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1177\/sage-journals-update-policy","source":"Crossref","is-referenced-by-count":115,"title":["Puppy love in the time of Corona: Dog ownership protects against loneliness for those living alone during the COVID-19 lockdown"],"prefix":"10.1177","volume":"67","author":[{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0003-2639-045X","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Jessica Lee","family":"Oliva","sequence":"first","affiliation":[{"name":"Monash University, Melbourne, VIC, Australia"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Kim Louise","family":"Johnston","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Monash University, Melbourne, VIC, Australia"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]}],"member":"179","published-online":{"date-parts":[[2020,7,23]]},"reference":[{"key":"bibr1-0020764020944195","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"Ali S. H., Foreman J., Capasso A., Jones A. M., Tozan Y., DiClemente R. J. (2020). Social media as a recruitment platform for a nationwide online survey of COVID-19 knowledge, beliefs, and practices in the United States: Methodology and feasibility analysis. BMC Medical Research Methodology, 20, Article 116. https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1186\/s12874-020-01011-0","DOI":"10.1186\/s12874-020-01011-0"},{"key":"bibr2-0020764020944195","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"Antonacopoulos N. M. D. (2017). A longitudinal study of the relation between acquiring a dog and loneliness. Society & Animals, 25, 319\u2013340. https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1163\/15685306-12341449","DOI":"10.1163\/15685306-12341449"},{"key":"bibr3-0020764020944195","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"Banerjee D., Rai M. (2020). Social isolation in Covid-19: The impact of loneliness. International Journal of Social Psychiatry. Advance online publication. https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1177\/0020764020922269","DOI":"10.1177\/0020764020922269"},{"key":"bibr4-0020764020944195","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"Campbell K., Smith C. M., Tumilty S., Cameron A., Treharne G. J. (2016). How does dog-walking influence perceptions of health and wellbeing in healthy adults? A qualitative dog-walk-along study. Anthrozo\u00f6s, 29(2), 181\u2013192. https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1080\/08927936.2015.1082770","DOI":"10.1080\/08927936.2015.1082770"},{"key":"bibr5-0020764020944195","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"Cash M., Whittingham K. (2010). What facets of mindfulness contribute to psychological well-being and depressive, anxious, and stress-related symptomatology? Mindfulness, 1(3), 177\u2013182. https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1007\/s12671-010-0023-4","DOI":"10.1007\/s12671-010-0023-4"},{"key":"bibr6-0020764020944195","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"Clear S. J., Zimmer-Gembeck M. J., Duffy A. L., Barber B. L. (2020). Internalizing symptoms and loneliness: Direct effects of mindfulness and protection against the negative effects of peer victimization and exclusion. International Journal of Behavioral Development, 44(1), 51\u201361. https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1177\/0165025419876358","DOI":"10.1177\/0165025419876358"},{"key":"bibr7-0020764020944195","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"Crawford J. R., Henry J. D. (2003). The Depression Anxiety Stress Scales (DASS): Normative data and latent structure in a large non-clinical sample. British Journal of Clinical Psychology, 42, 11\u2013131. https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1348\/014466503321903544","DOI":"10.1348\/014466503321903544"},{"key":"bibr8-0020764020944195","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"Dwyer F., Bennett P. C., Coleman G. J. (2006). Develop-ment of the Monash Dog Owner Relationship Scale (MDORS). Anthrozo\u00f6s, 19(3), 243\u2013256. https:\/\/doi.org\/10.2752\/089279306785415592","DOI":"10.2752\/089279306785415592"},{"key":"bibr9-0020764020944195","unstructured":"Garcia B. S. (2020). A dogs impact: People\u2019s lived experience of the role of dog companionship on their wellbeing and sense of purpose [Unpublished Graduate Diploma dissertation]. Monash University."},{"key":"bibr10-0020764020944195","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"Gilbey A., Tani K. (2015). Companion animals and loneliness: A systematic review of quantitative studies. Anthrozo\u00f6s, 28(2), 181\u2013197. https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1080\/08927936.2015.11435396","DOI":"10.1080\/08927936.2015.11435396"},{"key":"bibr11-0020764020944195","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"Gosling S. D., Sandy C. J., Potter J. (2010). Personalities of self-identified \u201cdog people\u201d and \u201ccat people\u201d. Anthrozo\u00f6s, 23(3), 213\u2013222. https:\/\/doi.org\/10.2752\/175303710X12750451258850","DOI":"10.2752\/175303710X12750451258850"},{"key":"bibr12-0020764020944195","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"Hajek A., K\u00f6nig H.H. (2019). How do cat owners, dog owners and individuals without pets differ in terms of psychosocial outcomes among individuals in old age without a partner? Aging & Mental Health. Advance online publication. https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1080\/13607863.2019.1647137","DOI":"10.1080\/13607863.2019.1647137"},{"key":"bibr13-0020764020944195","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"Hallam K. T., Bilsborough S., de Courten M. (2018). \u201cHappy feet\u201d: Evaluating the benefits of a 100-day 10,000 step challenge on mental health and wellbeing. BMC Psychiatry, 18, Article 19. https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1186\/s12888-018-1609-y","DOI":"10.1186\/s12888-018-1609-y"},{"key":"bibr14-0020764020944195","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"Holt-Lunstad J., Smith T. B., Layton J. B. (2010). Social relationships and mortality risk: A meta-analytic review. PLOS Medicine, 7(7), Article e1000316. https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1371\/journal.pmed.1000316","DOI":"10.1371\/journal.pmed.1000316"},{"key":"bibr15-0020764020944195","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"Howell T. J., Bowen J., Fatj\u00f3 J., Calvo P., Holloway A., Bennett P. C. (2017). Development of the Cat-Owner Relationship Scale (CORS). Behavioural Processes, 141, 305\u2013315. https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1016\/j.beproc.2017.02.024","DOI":"10.1016\/j.beproc.2017.02.024"},{"key":"bibr16-0020764020944195","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"Hughes M. E., Waite L. J., Hawkley L. C., Cacioppo J. T. (2004). A short scale for measuring loneliness in large surveys: Results from two population-based studies. Research on Aging, 26(6), 655\u2013672. https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1177\/0164027504268574","DOI":"10.1177\/0164027504268574"},{"key":"bibr17-0020764020944195","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"Jackson-Grossblat A., Carbonell N., Waite D. (2016). The therapeutic effects upon dog owners who interact with their dogs in a mindful way. Journal of Humanistic Psychology, 56(2), 144\u2013170. https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1177\/0022167814559390","DOI":"10.1177\/0022167814559390"},{"key":"bibr18-0020764020944195","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"Jin Y., Zhang M., Wang Y., An J. (2020). The relationship between trait mindfulness, loneliness, regulatory emotional self-efficacy, and subjective well-being. Personality and Individual Differences, 154, 109650. https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1016\/j.paid.2019.109650","DOI":"10.1016\/j.paid.2019.109650"},{"key":"bibr19-0020764020944195","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"Kirkham A. J., Breeze J. M., Mar\u00ed-Beffa P. (2012). The impact of verbal instructions on goal-directed behaviour. Acta Psychologica, 139, 212\u2013219. https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1016\/j.actpsy.2011.09.016","DOI":"10.1016\/j.actpsy.2011.09.016"},{"key":"bibr20-0020764020944195","unstructured":"Lim M. (2018). Australian loneliness report: A survey exploring the loneliness levels of Australians and the impact on their health and wellbeing. Australian Psychological Society; Swinburne University. http:\/\/hdl.handle.net\/1959.3\/446718"},{"key":"bibr21-0020764020944195","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"Lovibond S. H., Lovibond P. F. (1995). Manual for the Depression Anxiety Stress Scales (2nd ed.). Psychology Foundation. https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1037\/t39835-000","DOI":"10.1037\/t01004-000"},{"key":"bibr22-0020764020944195","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"Luo Y., Hawkley L. C., Waite L. J., Cacioppo J. T. (2012). Loneliness, health, and mortality in old age: A national longitudinal study. Social Science & Medicine, 74(6), 907\u2013914. https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1016\/j.socscimed.2011.11.028","DOI":"10.1016\/j.socscimed.2011.11.028"},{"key":"bibr23-0020764020944195","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"Lupyan G., Swingley D. (2012). Self-directed speech affects visual search performance. Quarterly Journal of Experimental Psychology, 65(6), 1068\u20131085. https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1080\/17470218.2011.647039","DOI":"10.1080\/17470218.2011.647039"},{"key":"bibr24-0020764020944195","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"Ng Q. X., Chee K. T., Deyn M. L. Z. Q. D., Chua Z. (2020). Staying connected during the COVID-19 pandemic. International Journal of Social Psychiatry. Advance online publication. https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1177\/0020764020926562","DOI":"10.1177\/0020764020926562"},{"key":"bibr25-0020764020944195","volume-title":"All in one, one in all: The nature of interbeing","author":"Nhat Hanh T","year":"2001"},{"key":"bibr26-0020764020944195","unstructured":"Office for National Statistics. (2018, December 5). Recommended national indicators of loneliness: Overview of our recommendations for national measures of loneliness. https:\/\/www.ons.gov.uk\/peoplepopulationandcommunity\/wellbeing\/compendium\/nationalmeasurementofloneliness\/2018\/recommendednationalindicatorsofloneliness"},{"key":"bibr27-0020764020944195","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"Oliva J. L., Rault J.L., Appleton B., Lill A. (2016). Oxytocin blocks pet dog (Canis familiaris) object choice task performance being predicted by owner-perceived intelligence and owner attachment. Pet Behaviour Science, 1, 31\u201346. https:\/\/doi.org\/10.21071\/pbs.v0i1.3991","DOI":"10.21071\/pbs.v0i1.3991"},{"key":"bibr28-0020764020944195","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"Ong A. D., Uchino B. N., Wethington E. (2016). Loneliness and health in older adults: A mini-review and synthesis. Gerontology, 62, 443\u2013449. https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1159\/000441651","DOI":"10.1159\/000441651"},{"key":"bibr29-0020764020944195","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"\u04e6zdin S. \u04e6zdin \u015e. B. (2020). Levels and predictors of anxiety, depression and health anxiety during COVID-19 pandemic in Turkish society: The importance of gender. International Journal of Social Psychiatry. Advance online publication. https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1177\/0020764020927051","DOI":"10.1177\/0020764020927051"},{"issue":"1","key":"bibr30-0020764020944195","first-page":"5","volume":"2","author":"Papotto E. M. C.","year":"2019","journal-title":"People and Animals: The International Journal of Research and Practice"},{"key":"bibr31-0020764020944195","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"Powell L., Edwards K. M., McGreevy P., Bauman A., Podberscek A., Neilly B., Sherrington C., Stamatakis E. (2019). Companion dog acquisition and mental well-being: A community-based three-arm controlled study. BMC Public Health, 19, Article 1428. https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1186\/s12889-019-7770-5","DOI":"10.1186\/s12889-019-7770-5"},{"key":"bibr32-0020764020944195","unstructured":"Roy T. (2020, April 5). Coronavirus restrictions see demand for pets surge as shelters issue warning to prospective owners. https:\/\/www.abc.net.au\/news\/2020-04-05\/demand-for-pets-surge-as-australians-stay-at-home\/12118888"},{"key":"bibr33-0020764020944195","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"Russell D., Peplau L. A., Cutrona C. E. (1980). The revised UCLA Loneliness Scale: Concurrent and discriminant validity evidence. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 39, 472\u2013480. https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1037\/0022-3514.39.3.472","DOI":"10.1037\/\/0022-3514.39.3.472"},{"key":"bibr34-0020764020944195","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"Schutte N. S., Malouff J. M. (2018). Mindfulness and connectedness to nature: A meta-analytic investigation. Personality and Individual Differences, 127, 10\u201314. https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1016\/j.paid.2018.01.034","DOI":"10.1016\/j.paid.2018.01.034"},{"key":"bibr35-0020764020944195","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"Shearer A., Hunt M., Chowdhury M., Nicol L. (2016). Effects of a brief mindfulness meditation intervention on student stress and heart rate variability. International Journal of Stress Management, 23(2), 232\u2013254. https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1037\/a0039814","DOI":"10.1037\/a0039814"},{"key":"bibr36-0020764020944195","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"Soysa C. K., Wilcomb C. J. (2015). Mindfulness, self-compassion, self-efficacy, and gender as predictors of depression, anxiety, stress, and well-being. Mindfulness, 6(2), 217\u2013226. https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1007\/s12671-013-0247-1","DOI":"10.1007\/s12671-013-0247-1"},{"key":"bibr37-0020764020944195","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"Walach H., Buchheld N., Buttenm\u00fcller V., Kleinknecht N., Schmidt S. (2006). Measuring mindfulness: The Freiburg Mindfulness Inventory (FMI). Personality and Individual Differences, 40, 1543\u20131555. https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1016\/j.paid.2005.11.025","DOI":"10.1016\/j.paid.2005.11.025"},{"key":"bibr38-0020764020944195","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"Wang Y., Di Y., Ye J., Wei W. (2020). Study on the public psychological states and its related factors during the outbreak of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) in some regions of China. Psychology, Health & Medicine. Advance online publication. https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1080\/13548506.2020.1746817","DOI":"10.1080\/13548506.2020.1746817"}],"updated-by":[{"DOI":"10.1177\/0020764021990603","type":"correction","label":"Correction","source":"publisher","updated":{"date-parts":[[2021,2,3]],"date-time":"2021-02-03T00:00:00Z","timestamp":1612310400000}}],"container-title":["International Journal of Social Psychiatry"],"original-title":[],"language":"en","link":[{"URL":"https:\/\/journals.sagepub.com\/doi\/pdf\/10.1177\/0020764020944195","content-type":"application\/pdf","content-version":"vor","intended-application":"text-mining"},{"URL":"https:\/\/journals.sagepub.com\/doi\/full-xml\/10.1177\/0020764020944195","content-type":"application\/xml","content-version":"vor","intended-application":"text-mining"},{"URL":"https:\/\/journals.sagepub.com\/doi\/pdf\/10.1177\/0020764020944195","content-type":"unspecified","content-version":"vor","intended-application":"similarity-checking"}],"deposited":{"date-parts":[[2026,4,29]],"date-time":"2026-04-29T11:53:29Z","timestamp":1777463609000},"score":1,"resource":{"primary":{"URL":"https:\/\/journals.sagepub.com\/doi\/10.1177\/0020764020944195"}},"subtitle":[],"short-title":[],"issued":{"date-parts":[[2020,7,23]]},"references-count":38,"journal-issue":{"issue":"3","published-print":{"date-parts":[[2021,5]]}},"alternative-id":["10.1177\/0020764020944195"],"URL":"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1177\/0020764020944195","relation":{},"ISSN":["0020-7640","1741-2854"],"issn-type":[{"value":"0020-7640","type":"print"},{"value":"1741-2854","type":"electronic"}],"subject":[],"published":{"date-parts":[[2020,7,23]]}}}