As millions of pet owners around the world stay at home during the COVID-19 crisis, many are discovering the benefits of sharing more time with their pets. Research into simple acts such as walking a dog or petting a cat continues to demonstrate what many pet owners around the world have long understood:Spending time with pets can bring a wide range of benefits to people, from an improved mood and reduced stress to reduced loneliness and even lower blood pressure. Now, two nonprofit organizations have teamed up to strengthen and promote the global scientific and research insights behind the benefits of living with pets:the Human Animal Bond Research Institute (HABRI), based in Washington, DC, and the Global Alliance of Pet Food Associations (GAPFA) based in Brussels, Belgium.
The important research results are:
- People who share their home with a pet may respond more healthily to stress, including lower blood pressure.
- Owning pets can have a positive impact on children's social and emotional development. Results of a study comparing primary school children with or without pets at home in Croatia found that children who reported greater attachment to pets showed significantly higher scores on empathy and prosocial orientation measures than non-owners and children who reported lower levels of attachment to pets. reported.
- Owning pets can help combat loneliness and strengthen social support. A survey of Swedish households found that people with pets at home report a lower sense of seclusion.
- A survey of people in Australia and the United States found that pet owners were more likely to get to know people in their neighborhood than those who don't have pets. The results indicated that pets can be a catalyst for several dimensions of human social relationships, ranging from social interaction and getting to know people to forming new friendships.
- In older adults, the role of pet ownership can provide a sense of purpose and meaning, reduce loneliness, and increase socialization. These benefits may also increase older adults' resilience to mental health disorders, which can positively impact their mental health outcomes.
- Owning pets is linked to increased physical activity. In a Japanese study comparing physical activity in pet owners and non-pet owners, dog owners had higher physical activity levels than owners of other types of pets and those without pets, indicating that dog ownership may play an important role in promoting physical activity. activity.
- Knowing the health benefits of the human-animal bond leads to better health and well-being of pets. According to the survey of pet owners, 92% of pet owners — when educated about the scientific research on the benefits of pets — are more likely to maintain their pet's health, including keeping up with vaccines and preventative medications, and 88% of pet owners are more likely to feed their pets quality food.
