Having a pet does not automatically make a person happier or healthier, and sometimes it even indicates hidden psychological problems.
Owners of furry friends often suffer from loneliness / © Credits
Researchers from the University of Basel analyzed data from 2328 adults to test the popular belief about the healing effect of pets on our bodies. The results were completely unexpected, as pet owners did not show better physical or mental health indicators compared to those who live without pets.
Earth.com reports on this.
Who Gets Pets and How They Affect Health
Statistics showed that pet owners are generally 4 years younger than others and are more often women living in rural areas. In addition, they are less likely to have higher education and smoke about 0.19 more cigarettes per day, which adds up to 70 extra cigarettes per year.
Even after accounting for differences in age and income, scientists found no health benefits from owning a pet. The number of doctor visits, life satisfaction levels, and daily social support were identical in both groups.
It was particularly interesting that people who sought the greatest emotional support from their pets actually felt more loneliness. The psychological state of such individuals turned out to be somewhat worse, which completely destroys the classic myth of furry saviors from depression.
Dogs Lead, Fish Disappoint
The study confirmed that dogs rank first among all animals in their ability to form a strong emotional bond with their owner. Men who had never been married and women, regardless of marital status, reported a higher level of attachment to their pets compared to married men.
At the same time, interaction with less interactive creatures showed completely different, sometimes even negative results for the psyche. Scientists noticed that regular contact with fish, reptiles, or insects was often associated with a decrease in the overall psychological well-being of owners.
Cause or Effect
Since the survey was conducted only once, it is extremely difficult for specialists to determine the root cause of such unexpected results. It is possible that owning a pet does indeed lead to the development of worse habits, such as an increase in the number of cigarettes smoked.
However, the authors themselves lean towards another explanation, which they call the selection effect. They suggest that people with poorer mental health or those who are constantly under stress are more likely to get a pet for comfort.
Experts also caution against hasty conclusions, as all 2328 participants lived exclusively in Switzerland, so these trends may differ in other countries. At the same time, simply having a passport for a cat or dog does not guarantee any magical changes in your well-being.
“Our findings suggest that simple pet ownership is not associated with better health or well-being; rather, people’s relationships with their pets are much more complex than a simple ‘yes’ or ‘no’ answer,” the study authors concluded.
Recall that dog behavior is often misinterpreted—from a “guilty” look to sudden “growls.” An expert explained what actually lies behind the most common habits of pets.
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