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Happiness, Research & Reports
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Do Pets Improve Your Mental Health?

Do pets improve your mental health? By an overwhelming majority, Americans respond with a resounding “yes.”

In a February 2024 poll of over 2,200 adults, 84% of respondents said their animal companion positively impacts their mental health, according to U.S. News & World Report.

Roughly two-thirds reported that their pet was “a true friend,” a “companion” and someone who “provide[s] unconditional love and support.” Nearly one in five pet owners has at least one certified emotional support animal.

The poll was jointly funded by the American Psychiatric Association (APA) and the American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA). Results were reported via a news release.

Pets even offer their humans mental health therapy of a sort, says APA president Dr. Petros Levounis.

“It’s easy to overlook the role of pets when we’re talking about mental health,” said Levounis. “But for people who do enjoy the company of animals, they can be a source of companionship, comfort, love and friendship. I routinely encourage adoption of a pet to my patients who struggle with addiction to alcohol, drugs or technology. We’re also starting to see more and more research around the role that animals can play in recovery from depression and other psychiatric disorders.”

What did the poll find?

  • Nearly 3 in four (72%) of those polled had some kind of animal at home.
  • Almost two-thirds (62%) of respondents said their pet provides a calming presence or helps reduce stress and anxiety.
  • Over one-third (35%) of respondents said their pet encourages them to be physically active.
  • Roughly one in five people (19%) said having a pet boosts their social connections.

AVMA President Dr. Rena Carlson was unsurprised by the findings.

“As veterinarians, we witness firsthand the powerful bond between people and their animals, and the positive impact pets can have on their emotional well-being,” she said. “From offering companionship and unconditional love to reducing stress and anxiety, pets can be invaluable sources of comfort and support. These survey results further reinforce the importance of responsible pet ownership and the critical role pets play in our lives.”

What kind of pets do people share their lives with?

  • Dogs – 52%
  • Cats – 37%
  • Fish – 7%
  • Birds – 4%
  • Other (turtles, chickens, horses, snakes, lizards, rabbits, guinea pigs, hamsters) – under 3%

Which pets provide the greatest mental health boost?

Nothing against turtles and fish, but according to the news release, “Dog (85%) and cat (86%) owners, as well as those who indicated they are owners of emotional support animals (88%) were all more likely to say their pet had a mostly positive impact on their mental health than those with other companion animals (55%).”

Additional evidence supporting the positive impact of pets 

The poll findings echo prior results by other organizations. A 2022 poll by the American Heart Association found that 95% of pet parents report relying on their pets for stress relief.

For more on pets and health, check out this Harvard Health Publishing article about how dogs and other pets can help bring down stress and foster positive feelings and habits that may improve cardiovascular health.

Read the full article or the news release here.

 

Mundell, Ernie. “Pets Bring People Big Mental Health Boost: Poll.” The Washington Post, 4 Mar 2024, https://www.usnews.com/news/health-news/articles/2024-03-04/pets-bring-people-big-mental-health-boost-poll.

Photo by Veronika Jorjobert on Unsplash