Proving that Pets Prevent Psychological Problems

Pet owners need no convincing that their four-legged companions are a potent source of psychological support.  However, there aren’t many scientific studies proving this.  A psychologist from Miami University, Ohio, has tried to remedy this with three ‘studies’ that he has reported in the Journal of Personality and Social Psychology.   

First, Dr McConnell and his colleagues surveyed a community-dwelling population of 200+ young adults; they had an average age of 31, an average income of $77,000, and were 79% female.  The pet-owners amongst the participants fared better in their feelings of well-being, their attachment style, and their personality type.  (But how can one personality type be “better”? – RG.)  Their scores on the tests showed them to enjoy better heath, be better adjusted, and be happier than those who didn’t have pets.

In the second study more than 50 dog owners – average age 42, average income $65,000, 91% female – were examined as to whether they had greater well-being when their dog was perceived to ‘fulfill their social needs’ better (i.e. made them feel they belong, have good self-esteem, and a meaningful existence) than when Fido didn’t have this ability; the results showed that, indeed, a supportive dog complemented rather than competed with human sources.  

The third study was experimental, on undergraduates with an average age of 19.  They were asked to write about a time in their lives when they felt excluded – i.e. social rejection.  Then they were asked to write about their favorite pet, or their favorite friend, or to draw a map of the campus.  The resultant papers showed that writing about a pet had the same beneficial effect on their feelings of rejection as those produced by writing about a friend (but not by drawing a map).

These three ‘studies’ were not as rigidly designed or as well controlled as one would expect from a clinical study.  (But they may present a normal standard for psychological work.)  At all events, they provide results that support the concept of man’s best friend being a true support in many aspects of emotional and psychological health –which we always knew, of course.