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

Abstract

Introduction: Social isolation has increased during the COVID-19 pandemic, aff ecting well-being. Veterans, a mar- ginalized 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 fi ve 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. Th ere was a dearth of lit- erature 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 eff ects 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.