Date of Conferral

12-1-2025

Date of Award

December 2025

Degree

Doctor of Public Health (DrPH)

School

Public Health

Advisor

Srikanta Banerjee

Abstract

Pet ownership continues to be part of modern society in the United States. Researchers have explored pet ownership’s impact on chronic diseases and aging populations, but research on health-related quality of life is limited. Grounded in the socioecological model, this quantitative study analyzed data from the 2005-2006 National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (N = 10,348) to investigate the impact of pet ownership on health-related quality of life among low-income adults aged 30-50 years. Chi-square tests were performed to analyze the associations between age, income, gender, and race with three health-related quality of life metrics. Results showed no statistically significant association for males, X2(4, N = 3,911) = 2.8, p = 0.6, or females, X2(4, N = 3,911) = 1.5, p = 0.8, from any racial group who owns a dog or cat. Among dog owners, no statistical relationship was found between health-related quality of life and the four racial groups: Hispanic X2(3.6, N = 2,005) = 2.8, p = 0.4; Non-Hispanic White X2(3.6, N = 2,005) = 2.8, p = 0.4; Non-Hispanic Black X2(2.5, N = 2,005) = 2.8, p = 0.6; and other races including Multiracial X2(0.1, N = 2,005) = 2.8, p = 0.9. No association was found between pet ownership and health-related quality of life among low-income, middle-aged adults who reported experiencing days of poor physical health X2(4, N = 2,005) = 5.6, p = 0.2. The results indicated that pet ownership cannot be the singular focus of a public health improvement strategy. This study can contribute to positive social change by providing information for further research on the association between companion animals and individuals with chronic illnesses and other vulnerable populations.

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