This mental health awareness week, we’re discussing the significant impact our companion animals can have on our own mental health. From research showing they can improve a human’s wellbeing, to the benefits of the structure they add to our life – having a pet has the potential to add many positives to our lives.
Disclaimer: This article is intended to explore the potential connection between pets and human wellbeing. It is not a substitute for professional medical advice or a recommendation for managing mental health issues. If you or someone you know is experiencing a mental health crisis or requires support, please consult a qualified health professional or mental health service. Pets can provide comfort, but they are not a replacement for professional care and treatment.
We all love having pets in our lives. They offer unconditional love and companionship, becoming true members of the family. Beyond the joy they bring us, pets also play a powerful role in supporting our mental health and overall wellbeing. Simply petting a furry friend can help soothe stress and reduce anxiety—one of the many small but meaningful ways animals make our lives better.
How pets improve wellbeing
The therapeutic value of our relationship with our pets, especially dogs, is increasingly backed by science. Researchers have found pets can reduce stress, improve heart health, and in children, support with development of emotional and social skills.
Healthy social bonds are key to mental health — without them, we can become lonely, depressed and physically unwell. Studies show that the interaction between pet guardians and their animals can help reduce loneliness, increase feelings of social support, and help boost mood.
Researchers have shown that the benefits of the pet -human relationship spans from early childhood to old age. Pets help reduce stress and frustration in children with learning disabilities, and can help calm hyperactive or aggressive children, or even children with separation anxiety. Alzheimer patients have also been shown to have fewer anxiety related outbursts if they have a pet in their home.
Pets add structure to our lives
Animals not only help alleviate loneliness and isolation, but they also add structure to their owner’s lives. Pets require regular feeding, exercise, and care, which can support those struggling with their own routines. For instance, walking a dog encourages people to leave the house, encouraging social interaction. Whilst cat owners may not walk their cats, they still have opportunities to interact with others, such as when deciding which brand of cat food to buy at the supermarket. Additionally, when pet guardians leave the house to buy pet food, they’re more likely to buy food for themselves, and when they feed their pet, they might sit down to eat as well caring for a pet’s needs often encourages better self-care.
Powerful support in challenging situations
Animals can provide powerful therapeutic support, aiding recovery and providing comfort for the terminally ill. Studies support the benefits of pets being brought into hospitals or nursing homes to help reduce patients’ stress and anxiety.
Pets can also improve the learning environment for children with learning disorders. For example, when children with ADHD read to therapy dogs once a week, they showed better focus, fewer behavioural problems, and improved social skills, cooperation, and willingness to volunteer.
There are many stories of how animals help people through difficult times. Most talk about the benefits of simple things like going for walks, getting out into fresh air and putting one foot in front of the other. Others say how beneficial it is to have a dog curled up beside you, even when feeling alone and misunderstood. Animals don’t judge, they don’t tell you what to do, but just their presence can make things feel better.
Considerations for animal welfare
Whilst pets offer many mental health benefits, it’s also crucial to protect their welfare. Human health problems can sometimes negatively impact an animal’s wellbeing, so it’s important that the human-animal interaction works for both parties. Having a pet is a serious commitment requiring time, money and energy to meet its needs.
Pets can also suffer from anxiety and need consistency and stability for their own mental health. Before deciding if a pet is appropriate for human mental support, its important to consider their welfare too.
For more resources regarding the Health and Mood-Boosting Benefits of pets, visit https://www.helpguide.org/wellness/pets/mood-boosting-power-of-dogs.
References
Edwards NE, Beck AM. The influence of aquariums on weight in individuals with dementia. Alzheimer Dis Assoc Disord. 2013 Oct-Dec;27(4):379-83.
McCullough,Amy and Ruehrdanz,Ashleigh and Garthe,Rachel and Hellman,Cynthia and O’Haire,Marguerite, hai.2021.0023, Human-animal interaction bulletin.
Canine-assisted therapy for children with ADHD: preliminary findings from the positive assertive cooperative kids study. Schuck SE, Emmerson NA, Fine AH, Lakes KD. J Atten Disord. 2015 Feb;19(2):125-37.
Animals may act as social buffers: Skin conductance arousal in children with autism spectrum disorder in a social context. O'Haire ME, McKenzie SJ, Beck AM, Slaughter V. Dev Psychobiol. 2015 Jul;57(5):584-95.
