It’s National Pet Day tomorrow! And since more than 70% of American households have a pet, it feels like an occasion well worth celebrating. Need another reason to give your beloved companion an extra pat or treat tomorrow? (You probably don’t, but we’ll say it anyway.) Science has revealed some serious mental health benefits of pets.
In honor of the pets we love and National Pet Day tomorrow, we wanted to highlight some of those perks.
#1: Reducing the symptoms of anxiety
The American Psychiatric Association (APA) conducts a regular Healthy Minds Monthly Poll. February 2023’s poll focused on pet ownership. It revealed that 69% of pet owners said their companion helped to reduce stress and anxiety. 66% said that their pets provide a calming presence in their lives. In other words, your pet can help to lower symptoms of anxiety.
There are studies to back this up. A recent one looked at people ages 70–91 and found a “significant relation between pet ownership and fewer anxiety symptoms in older adults.” Another showed that simply interacting with a dog was enough to reduce people’s anxiety.
#2: Alleviating loneliness
The APA Healthy Minds Monthly Poll we mentioned above also revealed that 69% of people feel a true sense of companionship from their pets and feel love and support from them. 63% see their pets as true friends.
While loneliness has started to climb down from its peak during the pandemic, about 30% of American adults still report feeling lonely at least once a week. Since loneliness negatively impacts mental health, introducing a pet into your life could be an excellent way to eliminate this potential hurdle and improve your mental wellness.
#3: Increasing physical activity
A meta-analysis from last year looked at how pets impact the physical activity level of their owners. It found that “owners show a higher frequency of physical activity than non-owners.” And because getting moving has a direct and positive effect on your mental health, this is another area where pets deliver mental health benefits.
If you’ve been feeling blue, taking your dog for a walk or playing a game of chase around the house with your cat might give you a boost.
Research continues exploring the mental health benefits of pets
This is only a summary of what we know so far. Right now, the National Institutes of Health and Mars Corporation are funding studies to see how pets impact childhood development and if they make a difference for kids on the autism spectrum and those with attention-deficit/hyperactivity (ADHD) disorder.
And it’s not just younger humans who seem to benefit from the mental health benefits of pets. A recent meta-analysis of fourteen databases found that pets can help people living in nursing homes, offering comfort and a boosted sense of self.
Long story short, people of all ages can enjoy the mental health benefits of pets. We hope knowing that helps you have an extra-special National Pet Day tomorrow!
Your pet can do a lot to support your mental wellness, but you may need additional care and resources. We’re here to help. If you want to explore what therapy can do for you, contact our team at the Ventura Counseling & Wellness Center in Ventura or the West Valley Counseling Center in Tarzana.
