People With Pets Were Less Stressed And Depressed In Lockdown, Study Finds
New research has revealed that people who have had a pet during this pandemic have felt less stressed and lonely than people who didn¡¯t have any pets.
COVID-19 pandemic has affected our lives deeply, financially, mentally and even physically.
With people being forced to stay locked indoors, people who stay by themselves have been known to feel lonely, depressed and anxious, hearing about the rising number of cases.
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However,new research has revealed that people who have had a pet during this pandemic have felt less stressed and lonely than people who didn¡¯t have any pets.
This is according to a survey conducted by researchers at the University of York involving around 6,000 UK citizens where they were trying to understand how people coped with lockdown measures during the initial days of the pandemic.
Lead researcher Dr Elena Ratschen reveals that people who owned an animal companion showed better mental health than those who didn¡¯t have any pet. Nearly 96 percent of individuals revealed that the pet helped them stay fit and active during the lockdown.
She also revealed that this result was regardless of the pet of choice -- dog, cat or even a guinea pig, ¡°We also discovered that in this study, the strength of the emotional bond with pets did not statistically differ by animal species, meaning that people in our sample felt on average as emotionally close to, for example, their guinea pig as they felt to their dog. It will be important to ensure that pet owners are appropriately supported in caring for their pet during the pandemic.¡±
The survey also revealed that people were more concerned about their pets and their wellbeing in the COVID-19 world with added restrictions (like walking the dog or taking to vet) or who would take care of them when the owners fell ill.
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Co-author Professor Daniel Mills, a life scientist at the University of Lincoln explained, ¡°This work is particularly important at the current time as it indicates how having a companion animal in your home can buffer against some of the psychological stress associated with the lockdown. However, it is important that everyone appreciates their pet's needs too, as our other work shows failing to meet these can have a detrimental effect for both people and their pets.¡±
Yes, we all love our pets to death, but who would've known they offer more than just companionship? They're good for your sanity levels, too. If you're a pet owner, now is the time to give your pet a tight hug.
