The Perks of Pet Ownership? The Effects of Pet Ownership on Well-Being During the COVID-19 Pandemic

Abstract

Pet ownership has often been lauded as a protective factor for well-being, particularly during the COVID-19 pandemic. We expanded this question to consider how pet (i.e., species, number) and owner (i.e., pet relationship quality, personality, attachment orientations) characteristics affected the association between pet ownership and well-being in a pre-registered mixed method analysis of 767 people assessed three times in May 2020. In our qualitative analyses, pet owners listed both benefits and costs of pet ownership during the COVID-19 pandemic. In our quantitative analyses, we found that pet ownership was not reliably associated with well-being. Furthermore, this association largely did not depend on the number of pets owned, the species of pet(s) owned, the quality of the human–pet relationship, or the owner’s psychological characteristics. Our findings are consistent with a large body of research showing null associations of pet ownership on well-being (quantitatively) but positive reports of pet ownership (qualitatively).

The Associations between Human–Companion Animal Relationship Duration, Companion Animal Life Stage, and Relationship Quality

“…The present study has implications for the mental well-being of pet owners. The well-being benefits of human–pet relationships have been well-researched, but have yielded varying results, with some studies indicating positive well-being outcomes [ 50 , 51 , 52 , 53 ], some reporting neutral well-being outcomes [ 51 , 54 , 55 , 56 , 57 ], and others reporting negative well-being outcomes [ 58 , 59 ]. Although perceived pet responsiveness, perceived pet insensitivity, and human–animal bond did not display a significant relationship with pet relationship duration or pet life stage, self-expansion displayed a significant association with relationship duration and pet life stage for both dog and cat owners.…”

Pet ownership and psychosocial outcomes among the oldest old in Germany during the Covid‐19 pandemic. Findings based on the nationally representative “Old Age in Germany (D80+)”

“…Previous quantitative research also showed that pet ownership was not consistently associated with well-being. 31,32 A recent meta-analysis also showed that pet ownership may not affect mental health of individuals. 7 Similar findings were identified by a former systematic review.…”

“…These factors could balance each other out eventually resulting in null effects. Moreover, personality factors not considered in this study could also be relevant in stressful times of the pandemic 31 and should be integrated in upcoming studies whenever data are available.…”

“…7 Similar findings were identified by a former systematic review. 33 Moreover, while there may be benefits of pet ownership such as companionship, some drawbacks should be noted as well (e.g., concerns about the health and well-being of pets, 31 grief and risk of falls 34 ). These factors could balance each other out eventually resulting in null effects.…”