
Spending time with our furry companions offers more than simply pleasure; their companionship has many mental and physical health advantages that help us feel happier and more fulfilled. Studies have documented these incredible effects, while more research is underway to pinpoint exactly why this bond is so special.
What Science Says about Pets and Happiness So why do our furry or scaley roommates make us so warm and fuzzy? One theory suggests that spending time with a pet triggers the release of oxytocin, a hormone released when people interact positively with each other, leading to reduced stress, anxiety, pain sensitivity reduction, increasing empathy, bonding behaviors promotion, self-confidence boosting as well as decreased social isolation1.1 All these effects lead to people feeling calmer and happier when around our four-legged or scaley roommates!1 All this results in them feeling calmer and happier overall when spending time together with their furry or scaley companion.1
Activities people engage in with their pets provide additional physical and mental health benefits, as having one can drastically change one’s lifestyle in many positive ways. Pets become experts at studying their human counterparts; have you ever noticed your dog or cat running to the door even before putting on your shoes or coat to leave? They become so attuned to our body language that it often appears like they can read our minds – making us feel even closer together!
Mental Health Benefits of Pet Ownership
Owning or visiting with a pet can have profoundly positive effects on a person’s mental wellbeing, whether that means owning one yourself or meeting therapy animals that visit hospitals, nursing homes or schools as therapy visits to bring comforting cuddles to those in need of extra support.
An adorable animal and being cuddled by its fur can bring great pleasure, relieving stress and alleviating sadness.2
Living with a pet has also been shown to help children build self-esteem, expand vocabulary and improve speech as well as providing an important, consistent form of attachment that may reduce anxiety3.3
Dog owners also gain social interactions from walking their pups, which leads them to meet more of their neighbors and fellow dog owners.4 Sometimes just the “chore” of walking the dog multiple times daily may provide just the push needed to leave the house and meet new people – these interactions help enrich lives while lessening feelings of loneliness.