Companion Animals’ Roles for AIDS Survivors, Mostly Aging Males, during HIV/AIDS and COVID-19 Pandemics

SIMPLE SUMMARY: Long-term aging survivors of human immunodeficiency virus or acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (HIV/AIDS) were surveyed. Some did or did not have companion dogs or cats while experiencing both the AIDS and COVID-19 (COVID) pandemics. While antiretroviral treatments have reduced AIDS fatalities, survivors still suffer challenges with disabilities and finances. The surveyed 147 HIV/AIDS survivors reported experiencing more frequent stigma, aloneness, and sadness/grief during the AIDS pandemic than during COVID. During AIDS, sadness was greater among those with cats than those without cats. During COVID, older respondents unexpectedly were sad less often than younger ones; dog owners less often felt alone and isolated than those without dogs. Support during AIDS retrospectively was better for older respondents, and better for young gays than young straight ones. During COVID, support was better for men than women. Men with dogs felt more supported than those without; women with pets felt least supported. Compared to dog owners, cat owners more often felt isolated and less often felt supported. Few dog or cat owners received support from family members in either pandemic; but during the AIDS pandemic, dog owners had family support more than cat owners. ABSTRACT: Long-term HIV/AIDS survivors responded online concerning their experiences during the AIDS and COVID pandemics. Recruited from web-based organizations for AIDS survivors, 147 answered questions on: frequency of experiencing stigma, isolation, aloneness, or grief/sadness; pet ownership; and sources of human support during each pandemic. Conditional inference trees were run to identify relevant demographic factors. Post-hoc comparisons were conducted to compare dog owners and cat owners. AIDS survivors reported more frequent feelings of stigma, aloneness, and sadness/grief during the AIDS pandemic than during COVID. Cat owners’ sadness/grief during AIDS was greater than non-owners. During COVID, older respondents unexpectedly were less often sad/grieving than younger ones; dog owners less often felt alone and isolated than non-dog owners. Support during the AIDS pandemic retrospectively was rated better for older respondents; young gays’ support was greater than young straights. During COVID, support was better for men than women. Contrastingly, women with pets felt less support than those without; men with dogs felt more support than those without. Cat owners more often felt isolated and unsupported during COVID than dog owners. Few dog or cat owners received support from family members in either pandemic; during AIDS, family support was better for owners of dogs than cats.