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The vast majority of dog and cat owners will say their pets enrich their lives in countless ways and bring immeasurable levels of extra happiness, but researchers from Michigan State University suggest that most pet owners may just be telling themselves what they want to hear. Their new study found that despite owners claiming pets improve their lives, researchers did not see a reliable association between pet ownership and well-being during the COVID-19 pandemic:
The pandemic was a stressful time for everyone, to put it lightly. Even the most laid-back among us found themselves overwhelmed by the lockdowns and social distancing guidelines that dominated 2020. So, the research team at MSU theorized that the pandemic represented an ideal time to study just how much comfort and happiness pets really provide to their families.
In all, the study authors assessed a total of 767 people on three separate occasions in May 2020. The research team opted to adopt a mixed-method approach that allowed them to simultaneously assess several indicators of well-being, all while also asking participants to reflect on the role of pets from their point of view in an open-ended manner. Generally, pet owners predictably reported their pets made them happy. More specifically, they said their pets helped them feel more positive emotions and provided affection and companionship.
On the other hand, the participants also articulated the dark side of pet ownership, such as worries related to their pet's well-being or having their pets interfere with working remotely.
[...] "People say that pets make them happy, but when we actually measure happiness, that doesn't appear to be the case," says William Chopik, an associate professor in MSU's Department of Psychology and co-author of the study, in a university release. "People see friends as lonely or wanting companionship, and they recommend getting a pet. But it's unlikely that it'll be as transformative as people think."
As a lifetime pet owner who's had at least a dozen dogs over the years, I take umbrage with the study's findings. My dogs are always thrilled to see me when I arrive home from a long, tiring day of work, and taking them for a walk or just being in their presence immediately lifts my spirits. And I remember the calming effect petting a cat had for my ex-wife when she was pregnant and having a bad day.
Journal Reference:
Chopik, W. J., Oh, J., Weidmann, R., et al. (2023). The Perks of Pet Ownership? The Effects of Pet Ownership on Well-Being During the COVID-19 Pandemic. Personality and Social Psychology Bulletin, 0(0). https://doi.org/10.1177/01461672231203417
(Score: 3, Insightful) by Joe Desertrat on Thursday November 16 2023, @01:42AM (4 children)
Still less work and stress than a baby.
(Score: 3, Disagree) by tekk on Thursday November 16 2023, @02:10AM
If I remember right the studies bear this out: this one says pets are no benefit. The baby ones find that parents are *less* happy and fulfilled than childless people.
(Score: 3, Funny) by JoeMerchant on Thursday November 16 2023, @04:06AM (1 child)
Absolutely.
Our cat brings us dead birds and other presents, which we try to discourage, but if he wants to run away, sleep at other people's houses, get in fights, that's his problem.
🌻🌻🌻 [google.com]
(Score: 1) by anubi on Friday November 17 2023, @11:31AM
A neighborhood street cat adopted me when he found out I would feed him.
So I get the comfort of companionship, while neither of us gave up our life. He remains completely free to cat around. Not bad for a case of WalMart little friskies per month.
Sometimes a bit more if he brings friends over.
Sometimes a bit less if the neighbors are offering something better.
It's kinda like a feline cat-share.
One caveat... There is one neighbor that doesn't like cats. I'd rather have cats than mice any day.
"Prove all things; hold fast that which is good." [KJV: I Thessalonians 5:21]
(Score: 3, Insightful) by vux984 on Friday November 17 2023, @12:02AM
Having had both, the difference is that:
A pet is a zero sum game, you care for it until it dies, and the only reward is whatever you got out the relationship while it lasted.
A baby if all goes to plan, and you do it more or less right: the baby grows up, and becomes a self sufficient person, and a productive respected member of society with their own ideas, aspirations, and goals.
The experience of having raised someone to adulthood vs owning a pet are simply incomparable, and 'dog-parents' and the like who think their little furr-babby is somehow an equivalent experience are self-deluded morons.
Yeah, the baby might be more stress and more work for a while, but its temporary, and the rewards are incomprehensibly greater.