Poll: Most adults believe pet ownership has mental health benefits
Click Here to Manage Email Alerts
Results of a recently released poll found that 86% of U.S. adults believe pet ownership has a positive impact on their mental health.
According to a release issued by the American Psychiatric Association, 86% of respondents agreed that pets are key to wellbeing, with dog owners (87%) and cat owners (86%) equally likely to agree. A slightly higher majority (88%) of pet owners said they consider their pets a part of their family.
Among the respondents to the Healthy Minds Monthly Poll, which was conducted by Morning Consult among a sample of 2,200 U.S. adults from Feb. 10 to Feb. 12, 50% said they had dogs, 35% said they had cats, while 31% revealed they were not pet owners. Meanwhile, 3% of poll respondents identified ownership of fish, birds, turtles and more.
“People recognize that there is something special about bonds between humans and their pets,” APA President Rebecca Brendel, MD, JD, said in the release. “The animals we bring into our lives and our families play many roles from non-judgmental companions that we love to key partners in reducing our stress and anxiety.”
U.S. adults who agreed that pets positively impact their mental health cited benefits of having furry friends around, saying they help reduce stress and anxiety (69%), provide unconditional love and support (69%), offer companionship (69%), provide a calming presence (66%) and are true friends (63%).
When queried on pet-related stressors, owners relayed they were most worried about pet aging or death (71%) along with health (66%), as well as care during travel (56%) and health-related expenses (58%). Conversely, respondents who did not own pets stated they were most likely not to own one due to finances (29%) or time for proper care (22%). Approximately 11% of those polled revealed they were mourning a deceased pet.
“The benefits of pet ownership to many Americans seem to outweigh the stressors,” APA CEO and medical director Saul Levin, MD, MPA, said in the release. “If pets are not an option for your family, but you are seeking that connection, there are many opportunities to volunteer with animals that may also benefit your life.”
Building on the positive nature of pet interaction, the APA and American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA) are planning a collaboration to promote its benefits with a social media campaign called #Paws4MentalHealth. On March 29 at 1 p.m. (ET), the organizations are planning to hold a joint Twitter chat about pets and mental health featuring leaders from each. In addition, a social media toolkit will be available online for the public to promote their pets across all platforms.
“Veterinarians know first-hand the tremendously good impact pets can have on our lives and on our mental well-being,” AVMA President Lori Teller, DVM, said in a separate release. “We are so pleased to partner with APA on this unique opportunity to spread this positive message.”