The health of BC youth with pets About this report 2013 BC Adolescent Health Survey 29832 surveys were completed 1645 classrooms 56 school districts 325 PHNs and nursing students BC AHS ID: 532308
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Slide1
Connections and Companionship
The health of BC youth with petsSlide2
About this reportSlide3
2013 BC Adolescent Health Survey
29,832 surveys were completed1,645 classrooms56 school districts
325 PHN’s and nursing students
BC
AHSSlide4
Homeless and
Street Involved
Youth Survey
(HSIYS)
13 communities across BC
681 surveysSlide5
Youth with a petSlide6
Youth with a pet
Note: The difference between males and females owning a dog was not statistically significant.
Slide7
Family background
58% of Canadian youth took care of a pet, compared to 26% of those not born in Canada (BC AHS).Slide8
Geographic profileSlide9
Youth with additional challenges
Having a pet was more common among youth who:Were going to bed hungry (BC AHS)
Identified as LGBTQ2S (BC AHS)
Had been victimised (BC AHS)
Had a limiting health condition or disability (BC AHS and HSIYS)
Struggling with body image (BC AHS)
Were socially isolated (BC AHS)Slide10
Housing and having a pet
Youth who were living alone or living in unstable situations were less likely to have a pet.
Having a dog reduced the chance that homeless youth would be able to stay in a house or apartment.
Homeless pet owners were also less likely to access emergency housing.Slide11
Physical health
Overall health ratings were similar for those with a pet.Youth were less likely to sleep well if they had a pet.
Note: The difference for all youth was not statistically significant.
Slide12
Engagement in physical activity
Taking care of pets was associated with:Exercise (BC AHS)
Physical extracurricular activities (BC AHS)
This was the case for those traditionally at risk for not being active.Slide13
Mental health
Having a pet was linked to:Poorer overall mental health among females (BC AHS)Higher frequency of extreme despair among females (BC AHS)
Higher frequency of extreme stress (BC AHS)Slide14
Mental health
Having a pet was linked to:Poorer mental health among those in least stable housing (HSIYS)
Positive mental health for those dealing with other challenges (HSIYS)Slide15
Feeling skilled
Youth with a pet
were more likely to report that
they were good at something.Slide16
Hope for the future
Youth with a pet were more likely to see themselves with:A job or career
A family
A home of their own
Youth with a pet were less likely to see themselves:
In school (BC AHS)Slide17
Youth with a cat
Less likely to use marijuana every day
Youth with any type of pet
Less likely to have tried amphetamines
Youth with a pet in precarious housing
Less likely to use substances to manage stress (HSIYS)
Substance use
Urban
youth who completed the BC AHS were more likely to have tried alcohol and marijuana.
Slide18
Accessing services
Those with a pet were more likely to have missed out
on:
Medical care
Mental health services (BC AHS)Slide19
School
Homeless youth with a pet were more likely to be:Attending school
Attending regularly
Less connected to school (HSIYS)
Youth
with a pet were more likely to:
Skip school
Miss class because of family responsibilities (BC AHS)
* The percentage should be interpreted with caution as the standard error was relatively high but still within a releasable range.Slide20
Safety
BC AHS: Pet owners felt safer in their neighbourhood during the day and at night
.
HSIYS:
Not generally safer with a pet.
However, some vulnerable groups did feel safer, including those with a sensory condition.Slide21
Pets and social connections
Having a pet:More likely to have 6 or more friends (BC AHS)
More likely to have non-homeless friends (HSIYS)Slide22
Homeless youth and access to vet services
29% of homeless pet owners had accessed a vet.55% of those found the vet helpful.
Youth in the Fraser region were more likely to have accessed a vet.Slide23
Final word
Caring for a pet is linked to positive health.
However, some of these benefits can be negated by barriers associated with pet ownership.
For vulnerable youth, these can include accessing housing.
Despite this, it is still common for homeless youth to have a pet.Slide24
For more information
Copies of the report are available at: www.mcs.bc.caFollow us on twitter:
@
mccrearycentre
Facebook: McCreary Centre Society
For enquiries about this report, presentation requests, or information about accessing data from
McCreary surveys,
please email: mccreary@mcs.bc.caSlide25
Thank you
annie@mcs.bc.caduncan@mcs.bc.ca