Contrary to popular belief, living with and having a close bond with a companion animal may not lead to significant mental health improvements in people with serious mental illnesses such as bipolar disorder or schizophrenia, according to a survey conducted by researchers at the University of York.
The study, which followed up on a previous 2021 survey investigating the effects of animal ownership on mental health during the COVID-19 pandemic, involved 170 UK participants with serious mental illnesses, 81 of whom reported having at least one animal.
The majority of the pet-owning participants reported that their animal provided them with companionship, a sense of consistency, and feelings of being loved.
Contrary to expectations, the researchers found no statistically significant improvements in mental health and feelings of loneliness among participants with serious mental illnesses who lived with an animal compared to those who did not.
The 2021 survey had even revealed a self-reported decline in mental health among animal owners with serious mental illnesses, possibly due to the added stress and challenges of caring for an animal during pandemic lockdowns.
Interpretation of Results
While many participants reported that their animal provided vital companionship and a sense of constancy, the benefits may have been outweighed by additional stressors, such as the cost of food, veterinary bills, and housing uncertainty.
The researchers suggested that the nature of human-animal interactions is complex and additional research is needed to further understand the relationship, including the potential impacts of different types of animals and external stress factors.
Future Research
The study, published in the CABI journal Human-Animal Interactions, recommends that future research should involve a larger sample size and compare a wider variation of species that participants feel closest to, to better understand the potential impacts of companion animals on mental health.
If you care about mental health, please read studies about 7 strange habits caused by depression, and Ketamine strongly reduces depression and suicide.
For more information about mental health, please see recent studies about the key to depression recovery, and results showing this mindfulness therapy could benefit people with depression.
The study was published in Human-Animal Interactions.
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