How does pet ownership during pregnancy affect mental health?
Researchers obtained data from 80,814 mothers during the second/third trimester of pregnancy in an ongoing nationwide birth cohort study.
Dog ownership was associated with reduced risk of depressive symptoms at 1 month and 6 months postpartum and with psychological distress at 12 months postpartum. In contrast, cat ownership was associated with increased risk of depressive symptoms at 6 months postpartum and psychological distress in the second/third trimester. Ownership of both cats and dogs was associated with increased risk of psychological distress in the second/third trimester.
Results suggest that dog ownership was a protective factor for maternal mental health problems, whereas cat ownership was a risk factor.
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