A new study suggests that your pets may be responsible for sleep disturbances and leg pain throughout the night.
Published in the journal Human-Animal Interactions and led by Dr. Lauren Wisniowski from Lincoln Memorial University in the U.S., the study specifically focused on pet ownership in America. It was based on data from the 2005–2006 National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES).
The study included data from 5,000 individuals, of whom 51.7% were women and 48.3% were men.
Dr. Wisniowski, Assistant Professor of Public Health, Research, and Engagement, concluded that owning a dog is associated with a higher risk of sleep disruption and sleep problems, whereas owning a cat is associated with a higher risk of leg pain.
The research noted, “Previous studies on the relationship between pet ownership and sleep quality or sleep disturbances have produced mixed results. On one hand, dogs and cats may benefit their owners’ sleep quality due to the social support they provide. The sense of security and companionship can improve levels of anxiety, stress, and depression. On the other hand, pets can disrupt their owners’ sleep.”
The study used multivariate logistic regression models, including factors affecting sleep quality such as feeling restless, difficulty falling asleep, insufficient sleep, taking more than 15 minutes to fall asleep, and averaging less than six hours of sleep.
Dr. Wisniowski suggested that the difference in sleep quality effects between cat ownership and dog ownership might be because cats tend to be more active at night.
The team noted that the difference in sleep quality indicators between cat owners and non-cat owners was smaller than the difference between dog owners and non-dog owners.