Study Shows Pet Ownership Has Psychological Benefits

It's well known that dogs are "man's best friend" -- and now we have science to prove it.

The emotional benefits of pet ownership can be equal to those of human friendship, according to psychologists at Miami University and St. Louis University.

The findings, published in the Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, are based on three experiments.

In part one, 217 questionnaires teasing out variables such as self-esteem, loneliness, illness, depression and activity level found that pet owners scored far better overall, demonstrating less lonely tendencies and higher self-esteem.

In section two, 56 dog owners answered identical questionnaires to part one, plus offered information about how they related to their dogs. In cases when the pet "complemented rather than competed" with human companions, animal owners experienced the greatest emotional returns.

"In fact ... we repeatedly observed evidence that people who enjoyed greater benefits from their pets also were closer to other important people in their lives and received more support from them, not less," the study says.

Finally, section three asked 97 undergraduate students to write about a socially alienating experience and then write about a favorite friend or pet. Feelings of exclusion were equally remedied by passages about friends as by those focussed on pets.

Of course, this is hardly the first study supporting the idea that animals make just as good friends as they do ... pets. Previous findings have linked pet ownership "to decreased pain transmission" and found that the benefits pet ownership can especially be especially pronounced in people older than 50.

This study also found that pet owners experienced greater physical fitness and exercise, perhaps because they are walking their dogs.

Researchers believe that the data shows an animal can provide the real benefits of a best friend, just like any human companion would.

"Belongingness is considered a central need for people," they wrote. "If pets are 'psychologically close' to their owner, they may provide well-being benefits for the owner just like any other person."

Comments

[liberalsrheros]

09:05 PM on 07/16/2011

you know when you bring a dog into your family the best case scenario is you'll be there when they pass and you'll be filled with sadness. still we do it for the love we can give them when they are with us. they pay back so much more than we give. dogs rule!

[glockman]

04:11 PM on 07/16/2011

"The emotional benefits of pet ownership can be equal to those of human friendship, "

And in many cases, better. I don't consider my dogs to be pets, I consider them to be companions. Some may argue that the semantics of this statement doesn't bear weight because the dogs did not choose to live with me. But I disagree. While I may have taken my Dachshunds into my home, they certainly have chosen to make themselves a part of my home. They choose to be with our family, and we treat them as such.

I have a deep and abiding love for all three of my Dachshunds.

[Maria Renna]

04:46 AM on 08/18/2011

When animals dont want to be with someone or a house, they show it in many ways!. So yes, its truel, they do choose to be with a person or in a place.

[claymanbob]

06:22 PM on 07/15/2011

How great to see all of the wonderful comments about people's pets. Smoky is the smallest dog (a mutt, of course), but with the biggest heart, we've had the joy to share our lives with. All of our pets bring smiles and laughter to us when we remember them. Thank God for his gift to us of these loving and loved ones in our lives. And when we get to Heaven, I know they will be there too.

[ninjasrolled]

12:06 AM on 07/15/2011

I have two cats, nine and ten years old. I love them. My boyfriend has a pitbull, 5 years, that we raised together. She is definitely HIS dog. I got my own puppy, admittedly because I wanted a dog that would love me like she loves him. Now, my little black pitbull, all 60 pounds of him, is the love of my life. Let me tell you, there is nothing, NOTHING like the love of a dog. My cats, though I adore them, do not love me like this gorgeous pit loves me. He makes me laugh every day. It will kill me someday when I lose him; I can't imagine it. But until then, I will enjoy every moment with my Valentino.

[dragonsrcool]

10:10 PM on 07/14/2011

I got my dog 6 days before my husband died. She has helped me through the greiving process. because she was very young (6 weeks) when we got he she needed alot of attention so focusing my attention on her care and training I didn't get lost in greif and depression.

[mistlesuede]

10:34 PM on 07/14/2011

OMG. I'm so sorry to hear about your loss. I hope you are doing okay. That was the most amazing timing and I might add, fortunate for you.

[T2]

05:40 PM on 07/14/2011

All Dogs go to Heaven..

[sargeccsd]

03:25 PM on 07/14/2011

#1
I lost my best friend on May 10, 2008. Penny came into my life 13 years before and it changed forever. I loved her with all my heart and soul, but love couldn't keep her here. Diabetes finally claimed her, and she is now at rest in my backyard.

I had a neighbor who had an adorable puppy. The night that Penny died the puppy got out of their yard and wandered about two blocks away. A woman found her and was canvassing the neighborhood trying to find it's owner. The neighbor was away and we had no idea how the puppy got out, and we agreed to keep the puppy until the owner got home.

The puppy slept at our house that night, the neighbor didn't come home until noon to claim their puppy.

I cried most of the day that Penny left and my wife and daughter were very supportive. We all felt that Penny sent the puppy here to help us cope with her death. No other dog had been in my backyard or the house since our family moved here 10 years ago. I don't know if Penny sent her or not, maybe it is her way of saying that I should not grieve and that she still loves me. I can't tell you the chills that I felt when I found out the puppies name, her name was Serenity. No one could ever convince me that Penny didn't send her to ease our grief.

[thezestyitalian1]

11:03 PM on 07/14/2011

Loved your story. I had somethinig very simular happen to me when i lost my cat of 18 years. Her kidneys were failing and the day came that i had no choice but to put her down. It wasnt even 24 hours later a buddy of mine called and asked if i would take their familys cat because they were moving soon and couldnt keep her. She turned out to be a great cat and i still have her today. Like i said, it wasnt even 24 hours!

[Marilyn Hemingway]

03:19 PM on 07/14/2011

I lost my Mother to cancer in 2007. During the last 3 weeks of her life I left my job and became her primary caretaker. One night out of the blue, she spoke about how she was looking forward to crossing Rainbow Bridge and she proceeded to name all of our dogs from my childhood to adulthood (42 years worth of dogs and cats). We didn't cry but had a good laugh. It was a moment of of pure joy. My dogs, Darby and Charlie have helped me to cope with the loss of my Mother. One day in the distant future I look forward to greeting my Mother and pets so we can cross the Rainbow Bridge together.

[leajazz]

12:05 PM on 07/14/2011

Rainbow Bridge

Just this side of heaven is a place called Rainbow Bridge.
When an animal dies that has been especially close to someone here, that pet goes to Rainbow Bridge. There are meadows and hills for all of our special friends so they can run and play together. There is plenty of food, water and sunshine, and our friends are warm and comfortable.

All the animals who had been ill and old are restored to health and vigor. Those who were hurt or maimed are made whole and strong again, just as we remember them in our dreams of days and times gone by. The animals are happy and content, except for one small thing; they each miss someone very special to them, who had to be left behind.
They all run and play together, but the day comes when one suddenly stops and looks into the distance. His bright eyes are intent. His eager body quivers. Suddenly he begins to run from the group, flying over the green grass, his legs carrying him faster and faster.

You have been spotted, and when you and your special friend finally meet, you cling together in joyous reunion, never to be parted again. The happy kisses rain upon your face; your hands again caress the beloved head, and you look once more into the trusting eyes of your pet, so long gone from your life but never absent from your heart.

Then you cross Rainbow Bridge together....

Author unknown...

[Spleenz]

04:22 PM on 07/16/2011

When we had our dog of 18 years cremated they sent his remains back with the Rainbow Bridge writing attached. I hadn't heard about it until then.

[leajazz]

11:29 AM on 07/14/2011

It is amazing how a pet can love you so much. I have experienced love, companionship and true devotion from dogs, cats and horses. I have always said that "a pet chooses you." I never went looking for a pet. They found me.

[IrieMoon]

11:10 AM on 07/14/2011

There are not enough words in the English language to describe my love for my dog.

[Spleenz]

04:24 PM on 07/16/2011

Completely agree, I feel the same way about my dog. Boston Terrier, Miniature Pincher mix...Bospin. Saved him from a puppy mill. Awful places, make me sick to even think he was in such a place.

[IrieMoon]

09:40 AM on 07/18/2011

It never ceases to surprise me that there are not more laws regarding puppy mills.

[FTracy3]

09:48 AM on 07/14/2011

Another study from the Department of the Obvious.

[maxout22]

07:28 AM on 07/14/2011

The journey through life is more special when there's a dog by your side.

[Lawyer13]

06:09 AM on 07/14/2011

i am very certain that pet ownershp has many health advantages, someone to talk to, and does not answer back, gives you unconditional love and affection, health too because if you have a dog you have to exercise them, the bottom line is that pets provide all rouon satisfaction for very little cost or effort.

[Bizmark]

01:18 PM on 07/15/2011

At the moment we have three dogs, all strays off the street, ours after a month at the animal shelter waiting for a claim by the owners, a claim that wasn't made for we we are grateful. Training a street dog to behave is a big challenge w/ huge rewards. It takes much patience. Our last effort saw little success for about 1 year during which Dave ate 2 pairs of head phones, 2 pairs of sunglasses, the shoulder strap off my vintage leather bag, the Wacom mouse, the sleeve off a leather jacket, the head liner in my Cabriolet......the list goes on. But I prevailed finally and the most proof of this was the night I had left my car in the office parking lot while I had dinner w/ co workers. My home is 4 blocks from the office where Dave, creative as usual, found a way out of the yard, found his way to the parking lot where I found him sitting in the drivers seat of my car, waiting for me. That act made up for all his destruction. He was laying his claim on me just as I had left mine on him. Great pleasure comes from getting back back what you have so patiently sought.

[kayatarms]

02:22 AM on 07/14/2011

My mother has dementia and if anyone has a parent with such a dehabilitating disease that rips your heart apart, a daily dose of depression can be unfathomable to deal with if nothing can bring out a smile. I decided to get two puppies after losing my dogs 14 and 15 yrs 5 years ago to pass on. I recently made up my mind to get two dogs too remind me to smile on a daily basis rather than to be consumed by grief, sadness and often anger for the inevitable. And I must say, the laughter is medicinal! Dogs are a humans best friend, and CAN brighten up your life! Go for it, and be a responsible pet owner! SPAY AND NEUTER, so many castaways, not necessary!