The Role of Pet Ownership in Mental Health: A Cross-Sectional Study among Outpatient Individuals with Depression Disorder in China

The Role of Pet Ownership in Mental Health: A Cross-Sectional Study among Outpatient Individuals with Depression Disorder in China | Authorea try { document.documentElement.classList.add('js'); } catch (e) { } var _gaq = _gaq || []; _gaq.push(['_setAccount', 'G-8VDV14Y67G']); _gaq.push(['_trackPageview']); (function() { var ga = document.createElement('script'); ga.type = 'text/javascript'; ga.async = true; ga.src = ('https:' == document.location.protocol ? 'https://ssl' : 'http://www') + '.google-analytics.com/ga.js'; var s = document.getElementsByTagName('script')[0]; s.parentNode.insertBefore(ga, s); })(); Skip to main content Preprints Collections Wiley Open Research IET Open Research Ecological Society of Japan All Collections About About Authorea FAQs Contact Us Quick Search anywhere Search for preprint articles, keywords, etc. Search Search ADVANCED SEARCH SCROLL This is a preprint and has not been peer reviewed. Data may be preliminary. 14 November 2025 V1 Latest version Share on The Role of Pet Ownership in Mental Health: A Cross-Sectional Study among Outpatient Individuals with Depression Disorder in China Authors : Yuhan Zhao 0000-0002-1774-3252 , Zhiting Huang , Yaoxin Wang , Xiaolin Lai , Lili Zhang , Leqin Fang , Junlong Guo , and Bin Zhang 0000-0003-1303-2397 [email protected] Authors Info & Affiliations https://doi.org/10.22541/au.176311995.51297604/v1 200 views 110 downloads Contents Abstract Supplementary Material Information & Authors Metrics & Citations View Options References Figures Tables Media Share Abstract Objective： This study investigated the relationship between pet ownership and mental health symptoms among Chinese outpatients with depression disorder, while exploring the moderating roles of the owners’ attitudes toward their pets and pet-related factors. Methods： Participants aged 14 years and older with depressive disorders were recruited from psychiatric outpatient clinics. Through a cross-sectional online survey, we assessed pet ownership and evaluated levels of depression, anxiety, insomnia, and suicidal ideation were measured using the 9-item Patient Health Questionnaire (PHQ-9), 7-item Generalized Anxiety Disorder Questionnaire (GAD-7), 7-item Insomnia Severity Index (ISI), and 19-item Beck Scale for Suicide Ideation-Chinese Version (BSI-CV). Results： Among 1,036 participants, 464 (44.79%) owned pets. Pet ownership was associated with higher rates of moderate-to-severe depression (29.74% vs. 23.95%) and anxiety (30.82% vs. 24.30%), as well as elevated BSI-CV scores. Owners’ attitude emerged as a critical moderator: negative attitudes increased the risk of depression and suicidal ideation, while positive attitudes reduced insomnia symptoms. Notably, cat ownership was protective against depression. Owning ≥2 pet types and longer ownership (>3 years) were linked to lower risks of depression, insomnia, and suicidal ideation. Furthermore, short-term ownership (<1 year) also reduced insomnia risk. Conclusion: Pet ownership itself is not associated with reduced symptom severity among Chinese depressive outpatients. Instead, pet owners exhibited more severe initial symptoms. However, owners’ positive attitudes toward pet ownership emerged as protective influences. These findings provide a basis for personalized clinical guidance to optimize the mental health value of pet ownership. Supplementary Material File (figure.docx) Download 509.15 KB File (table.docx) Download 51.95 KB File (the role of pet ownership in mental health(3).docx) Download 112.86 KB Information & Authors Information Version history V1 Version 1 14 November 2025 Copyright This work is licensed under a Non Exclusive No Reuse License. Keywords anxiety depression Authors Affiliations Yuhan Zhao 0000-0002-1774-3252 Southern Medical University Nanfang Hospital Department of Psychiatry View all articles by this author Zhiting Huang Southern Medical University Nanfang Hospital Department of Psychiatry View all articles by this author Yaoxin Wang Southern Medical University Nanfang Hospital Department of Psychiatry View all articles by this author Xiaolin Lai Southern Medical University Nanfang Hospital Department of Psychiatry View all articles by this author Lili Zhang Southern Medical University Nanfang Hospital Department of Psychiatry View all articles by this author Leqin Fang Southern Medical University Nanfang Hospital Department of Psychiatry View all articles by this author Junlong Guo Southern Medical University Nanfang Hospital Department of Psychiatry View all articles by this author Bin Zhang 0000-0003-1303-2397 [email protected] Southern Medical University Nanfang Hospital Department of Psychiatry View all articles by this author Metrics & Citations Metrics Article Usage 200 views 110 downloads .FvxKWukQNSOunydq8rnd { width: 100px; } Citations Download citation Yuhan Zhao, Zhiting Huang, Yaoxin Wang, et al. The Role of Pet Ownership in Mental Health: A Cross-Sectional Study among Outpatient Individuals with Depression Disorder in China. Authorea . 14 November 2025. DOI: https://doi.org/10.22541/au.176311995.51297604/v1 If you have the appropriate software installed, you can download article citation data to the citation manager of your choice. Simply select your manager software from the list below and click Download. For more information or tips please see 'Downloading to a citation manager' in the Help menu . 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