During the COVID-19 pandemic, many people turned to pets for comfort and companionship, leading to a rise in pet adoptions, often referred to as the “pandemic puppies” trend.
It was widely believed that having a pet would help people cope with isolation, anxiety, and depression.
However, a recent study by researchers from Aarhus University and King’s College London challenges this idea.
The study, published in Mental Health & Prevention, followed 6,018 people in the UK over 12 months to see if owning a pet improved their mental health.
Researchers focused on levels of depression, anxiety, loss of pleasure (anhedonia), and loneliness among pet owners compared to non-pet owners. To their surprise, the study found no significant mental health benefits from owning a pet.
Contrary to what many believe, pet owners did not experience better mental health than non-owners. In fact, the study showed that pet owners had slightly higher levels of depression, anxiety, and anhedonia during the pandemic.
Lead author Professor Christine Parsons explained, “We were surprised by these findings, as people often think that having a pet can improve mental health.
However, our results show that owning a pet doesn’t always provide the emotional support people expect.”
One common belief is that dog owners benefit from having a more structured daily routine and engaging in more physical activity, which could boost their mental health. The study did find that dog owners were more likely to exercise daily (40% compared to 35% of non-owners).
Despite this, the increased physical activity did not lead to better mental health outcomes. Dog owners and non-owners reported similar levels of depression, anxiety, and overall mental health.
The study also explored the stereotype of the lonely “Cat lady,” often portrayed as an anxious and isolated woman. Surprisingly, pet owners living alone, both dog and cat owners, reported slightly lower levels of loneliness compared to those without pets.
However, for people living with partners, families, or roommates, pet ownership didn’t make any difference in loneliness.
While women were more likely to own cats (30.3% compared to 22.7% for men), they did not report higher levels of loneliness, depression, or anxiety than men who owned cats.
According to the researchers, this study challenges the common belief that pets significantly improve mental health, especially during stressful times like a pandemic. Professor Parsons hopes the findings will help people manage their expectations about pet ownership and its emotional benefits.
“Pets can provide companionship, but they are not a cure for mental health problems,” she said. Dr. Katherine Young, the senior author, added, “This research shows that while there are some benefits, pet ownership is not a guaranteed solution for improving mental health.”
This study adds to the growing research on the relationship between pets and mental health, highlighting the importance of not relying solely on pets for emotional well-being.
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