By Erin Jester
Selena Gutierrez, a public health Ph.D. student in the social and behavioral sciences concentration, and Jacqueline Nicole Jones, Ph.D., a recent graduate of the rehabilitation science doctoral program, represented the University of Florida College of Public Health and Health Professions at the 2026 International Society of Anthrozoology Conference in Paris in July.
Gutierrez’s oral presentation, “Unmet Pet Caregiving Needs are Associated with Depression and Anxiety Symptoms Among People Living with HIV,” explored findings of a study on the relationship between barriers to meeting pets’ care needs and mental health outcomes among people living with HIV in Florida.
Jennifer Applebaum, Ph.D., an assistant professor in the Department of Environmental and Global Health and Gutierrez’s mentor, was the principal investigator of the study, funded by a pilot award from the National Institutes of Health via the University of Miami’s Center for HIV and Research in Mental Health and in collaboration with the UF’s Southern HIV and Alcohol Research Consortium.
“One of the biggest lessons from this work is that while the human-animal bond can be a valuable source of comfort and support, people first need access to the resources that allow them to care for both themselves and their pets,” Gutierrez said. “When those resources are limited, pet caregiving can become an added source of stress instead of support. It really reinforces how much the social determinants of health shape our daily lives and health outcomes.”
The findings have been accepted for publication by the journal AIDS and Behavior.
Jones’s presentation, “‘I do it all with love:’ The Human-Companion Animal Bond as a Source of Strength and Stress Among Older People with HIV,” explored the lived experiences of pet ownership and its impact on health and well-being among older people living with HIV. Jones is now a postdoctoral fellow conducting research under Applebaum.
A related study titled “Would the provision of pet-related services improve the health of pet-owning people with HIV?” was published in the journal Human-Animal Interactions in July.
UF co-authors of the publication were Gutierrez; Applebaum; public health Ph.D. student Kaylinn Escobar; Robert Cook, M.D., a professor in the Department of Epidemiology and director of SHARC; and Preeti Manavalan, M.D., an assistant professor of medicine in the College of Medicine’s Division of Infectious Diseases & Global Medicine. Other contributors to the study included the Florida Department of Health, Colorado State University, Virginia Commonwealth University and Unconditional Love, Inc., an HIV-focused healthcare center in Melbourne, Florida.
Results of the study showed that access to free pet-related services, such as pet food, veterinary care and/or boarding, would help people with HIV engage more effectively with their own healthcare, particularly for study participants who experienced disruptions in HIV care. Study trends suggested that pet caregiving may interfere with healthcare engagement by contributing to logistical and financial challenges and emotional distress that diverts attention from personal healthcare.
“That’s one of the reasons I’m so passionate about this field,” Gutierrez said. “I believe that improving health isn’t just about treating illness, rather it’s about understanding people’s lived experiences and addressing the barriers that affect their ability to thrive. When we support people in meeting their basic needs, we also strengthen the relationships and sources of support that help them live healthier lives.”