Veterans and animals: A review of the literature on well-being and social isolation and recommendations during COVID-19

• Published in: Journal of military, veteran and family health veteran and family health, 2021-10, Vol.7 (3), p.86-99
• Main Authors: Krause-Parello, Cheryl A., Pratt, Beth A., Meyer, Emma, Browne-Banic, Lisa
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Animals; Coronaviruses; COVID-19; Literature reviews; Social isolation; Veterans
• ISSN: 2368-7924; 2368-7924
• DOI: 10.3138/jmvfh-2020-0059

LAY SUMMARY Due to the COVID-19 pandemic and the negative consequences of social isolation on well-being, the authors wanted to better understand the impact animals have on Veteran well-being during times of social isolation. The authors searched current articles to find the answer. What was found was limited, but the findings support that human-animal interaction has beneficial effects on Veteran well-being ameliorating the consequences of social isolation. Introduction: Social isolation has increased during the COVID-19 pandemic, affecting well-being. Veterans, a marginalized population, are more likely to be impacted by social isolation; however, animals living in Veteran households may be an integral part of improving well-being. Methods: A narrative review was conducted to synthesize current literature published in peer-reviewed journals addressing the impact of animals on Veteran well-being during times of social isolation. Articles retrieved from five computerized databases were screened for inclusion. A biopsychosocial model was used to understand contributions of human-animal interactions to health outcomes. Results: A total of 114 articles were retrieved and 10 met inclusion criteria. Four articles were chosen for evaluation. There was a dearth of literature regarding social isolation, such as that experienced during the COVID-19 pandemic, and the impact of animals on Veteran well-being. Discussion: Robust methodological research designs are limited; therefore, investigation on the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic on social isolation and well-being of humans and their animals is recommended. It is also suggested that a database be created as a repository for human-animal interaction research.