Does owning a pet result in better stress management?

Stress can take many different forms, such as anxiety before giving a presentation at work or feeling overwhelmed about upcoming assignments. Nonetheless, it is an inevitable part of being human. Although stress is a normal reaction to difficult circumstances, chronic or extreme stress can harm one's physical and mental well-being. As such, finding successful stress management techniques is a common task for many people who want to live happy, fulfilling lives. Of all the stress-reduction strategies available, having a pet has become one of the most popular and supposedly successful ones. Past research studies have shown a complex relationship between pet ownership and stress management, particularly whether or not pet ownership significantly reduces stress levels among owners. Having a pet has long been linked to a host of advantages for physical well-being and mental health. A study done by Hui Gan et al. (2020) examines the impact of pet ownership on older adults' mental health. This study focused on older adults ages 65 and above, and used a combination of quantitative and qualitative methods, such as surveys and interviews, to collect information regarding participants’ mental health impact as a result of becoming pet owners. Their research found that participants experienced enhanced mental health in accordance with their pet ownership status. According to the surveys collected from the elderly pet owner population, having a pet can provide emotional support, lessen feelings of loneliness, and improve psychological resilience. Furthermore, taking care of pets requires daily routines and responsibilities that add a sense of fulfillment and purpose, which helps to reduce stressors that older adults often face.

Similarly, Wright et al. (2015) investigated the effect of getting a pet dog on primary caregivers' stress levels for children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) through a prospective case-control study. Stress level was measured using the Parenting Stress Index, a questionnaire consisting of 36 questions regarding parent-child interactions, parental distress, and child temperament. By observing participants’ stress levels before and after obtaining a pet dog, researchers found that caregivers' stress levels significantly decreased after a pet dog was brought into the home. Parents were also asked to complete an interview at three separate points throughout the experiment, in which they were asked about their emotional well-being before, immediately after, and weeks following becoming a dog owner. Through verbal recitation of the parent's mental state, it was evidenced that having a dog as a companion not only reduces the emotional strain of providing care but also promotes socialization and emotional attachment among family members. This study emphasizes how special pets, in this case dogs, are in offering unconditional love and support, especially when dealing with difficult situations like taking care of a child with special needs. Though this study focuses primarily on the effects of dog ownership on mental resilience, similar results have been yielded from other research studies that observe the influences of pet ownership.

Likewise, the COVID-19 pandemic's unprecedented challenges highlighted the significance of psychological resilience and coping mechanisms. The possible psychological advantages of pet ownership in times of crisis were investigated by Xin et al. (2021). According to their research, having a pet improves one's subjective well-being and can provide solace and company when faced with hardship. People who owned pets reported higher levels of psychological well-being during the pandemic's uncertainty and isolation, demonstrating the therapeutic value of human-animal bonds during difficult times. 

These studies demonstrate that having a pet can have a significant impact on stress levels and emotional health in a variety of demographic groups. In addition to standard stress management methods, pets provide a special kind of support in the form of companionship, affection, and a sense of purpose. Furthermore, having a pet has positive effects on community resilience and familial dynamics in addition to personal well-being. However, it is crucial to recognize that there are many facets to the relationship between having a pet and managing stress and that it can change based on personal preferences and circumstances. While many people find great joy and comfort in their furry friends, others might view pet ownership as an added burden or source of stress. For example, a loving family may experience financial distress as a result of unpredictable interferences, such as a global pandemic like COVID-19, resulting in them no longer being fit to take care of their pet. In response to this, they may opt to revoke their pet ownership by selling their pet or bringing them to a shelter. Situations like these may prove to be especially burdensome to people in that owning a pet increases stress, in this case financial, despite an animal’s reputation of helping cope and providing comfort. Examining the suitability of pet ownership as a stress-relieving strategy requires considering factors like pet allergies, financial constraints, and one’s lifestyle considerations.

To conclude, studies on how having a pet affects stress levels highlight the therapeutic benefits of human-animal relationships for fostering emotional health and resilience. Pets play an integral part in reducing stress and generally improving quality of life, offering companionship as well as a sense of purpose and belonging. In order to clarify the processes behind the positive impacts of pet ownership on stress management, more research is necessary as our comprehension of the intricate interactions between human and animal psychology develops. In the end, encouraging a greater understanding of the relationship that exists between people and their animal friends can open doors for creative methods of advancing mental health and emotional well-being in an increasingly complicated world.

References

Hui Gan, G. Z., Hill, A.-M., Yeung, P., Keesing, S., & Netto, J. A. (2020). Pet ownership and its influence on mental health in older adults. Aging & Mental Health, 24(10), 1605–1612. https://doi.org/10.1080/13607863.2019.1633620

Wright, H. F., Hall, S., Hames, A., Hardiman, J., Mills, R., & Mills, D. S. (2015). Acquiring a Pet Dog Significantly Reduces Stress of Primary Carers for Children with Autism Spectrum Disorder: A Prospective Case Control Study. Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders, 45(8), 2531–2540. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10803-015-2418-5

Xin, X., Cheng, L., Li, S., Feng, L., Xin, Y., & Wang, S. (2021). Improvement to the subjective well‐being of pet ownership may have positive psychological influence during COVID‐19 epidemic. Animal Science Journal, 92(1), e13624-n/a. https://doi.org/10.1111/asj.13624