Keywords
Elderly individuals living alone
Depression
Psychological mechanisms
Emotional connection
Submitted : 2025-11-15
Accepted : 2025-11-30
Published : 2025-12-15
Abstract
With the acceleration of population aging, the number of elderly individuals living alone continues to rise, and depression has become a significant issue affecting their physical and mental health. This study focuses on elderly individuals living alone, exploring the mitigating effect of pet companionship on their depression and delving into the underlying psychological mechanisms. Additionally, it offers recommendations on how to promote the pet companionship intervention model. Through analysis, this paper aims to provide references for improving the mental health of elderly individuals living alone.
References
Xing XJ, Wang J, Gao T, et al., 2023, Analysis of the Relationship between Activities of Daily Living, Comorbidity of Chronic Diseases, and Depressive Symptoms among the Elderly in China. Medicine and Society, 36(8): 123–128.
Guo C, 2025, The Mediating Effect of Depressive Symptoms on the Relationship between Social Participation and Cognitive Function in Comorbid Elderly Individuals. Chinese Journal of Health Psychology, 33(3): 321–326.
Lv DW, Li PX, 2025, Social Reconstruction: Optimizing Paths for Rural Institutional Elderly Care—Based on Three Case Studies in Rural Areas of Central China. Ningxia Social Sciences, 2025(3): 126–136.
Cui ZY, Zheng F, Chen CX, 2021, Analysis of the Impact of Pet Ownership on the Physical and Mental Health of Widowed Elderly Individuals. Psychological Monthly, 16(20): 31–33.
Ge GH, 2022, The Relationship between Adult Attachment and Theory of Mind: The Mediating Roles of Cognitive Fusion and Experiential Avoidance. Psychological Development and Education, 38(2): 223–235.
Gan C, Lu RY, 2025, Construction of a Mental Health Service System for Empty-nest Elderly Individuals in Rural Communities Based on Social Support Theory. Health Vocational Education, 43(7): 150–153.
Sun JJ, Lv XY, Li YQ, et al., 2022, Economic Geography Reflections on the Pet Phenomenon: Diverse Issues and Innovative Directions. Economic Geography, 42(7): 1–10.
Zong SF, 2020, Construction of a “Smart Health Elderly Care Service Model” from an Embeddedness Perspective—A Case Study of “Beike Elderly Care”. Journal of Guizhou Minzu University (Philosophy and Social Sciences Edition), 2020(2): 44–128.
Wang PF, Yu Q, Yu T, et al., 2025, Exploration of the Current Situation of Pet Services within the Same City and the Pet O2O Peripheral Service Model. Fujian Journal of Animal Husbandry and Veterinary Medicine, 47(4): 67–69.
An J, Guo HY, Chen JZ, 2009, Problems and Countermeasures in Urban Pet Keeping—Taking Handan City, Hebei Province as an Example. China Animal Health Inspection, 26(1): 13–14.