ABSTRACT An unanticipated finding during research on the role that pets play in the health of older adults was that pets had protected some from suicide. Given that older people are more vulnerable to fatal first attempts, understanding protective factors in this population is vital. Twelve older adults interviewed about the role of pets on their health spoke overtly of suicide (n = 2), obliquely referred to suicidal ideation (n = 5), or reported high levels of distress and/or depression (n = 5). These participants were aged 60 to 83 years; five were male and seven were female. Interview transcripts were analyzed using a qualitative descriptive thematic approach in order to understand how they (collectively) identified pets as protecting them from suicide. Concepts of function, presence, known-ness, and reciprocity emerged as factors protective against suicide. These factors may counter those already identified as underpinning suicidal behavior: perceived burdensomeness and social alienation. For some older people, relationships with nonhuman others may be protective against suicide. Systemic responses that incorporate human–animal relationship awareness need to be explored to promote and protect some humans while also considering the impact on pets.

中文翻译：

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宠物作为老年人自杀保护的定性分析

摘要 在研究宠物在老年人健康中所起的作用时，一个意想不到的发现是宠物保护了一些人免于自杀。鉴于老年人更容易受到致命的第一次尝试，了解这一人群的保护因素至关重要。接受采访的 12 名老年人公开谈论了自杀（n = 2），间接提到了自杀意念（n = 5），或报告了高度的痛苦和/或抑郁（n = 5）。这些参与者年龄在 60 至 83 岁之间；五名男性，七名女性。使用定性描述性主题方法分析访谈记录，以了解他们如何（集体）确定宠物可以保护他们免于自杀。功能、在场、已知性的概念，互惠成为防止自杀的因素。这些因素可能会抵消那些已经被确定为支持自杀行为的因素：感知到的负担和社会疏远。对于一些老年人来说，与非人类其他人的关系可能可以防止自杀。需要探索包含人与动物关系意识的系统反应，以促进和保护一些人类，同时还要考虑对宠物的影响。