Abstract
Simple SummaryThe initial months of COVID-19 forced people to quickly adapt to dramatic changes to their daily lives. As a result of the inevitable decrease in access to social support available during the lockdown phase of COVID-19, countless individuals relied upon their companion dogs and cats. Given the strong connections many people have with their companion animals, this study hypothesized that companion dogs and cats would positively impact guardians’ mental health. Anonymous online surveys were used to test this premise. A total of 5061 responses, primarily females (89%) from the United States (84%), were analyzed. Results suggest that companion animals played a critical role in reducing feelings of depression, anxiety, isolation, and loneliness. Companion animals also helped increase guardians’ experiences of self-compassion, ability to maintain a regular schedule, feel a sense of purpose and meaning, and cope with uncertainty. This was most prevalent for women under the age of 40 who were highly bonded to their companion animal. In conclusion, our study suggests that a companion dog or cat can help mitigate the effects of extreme stress and social isolation.The initial months of COVID-19 forced people to quickly adapt to dramatic changes to their daily lives. As a result of the inevitable decrease in access to social support available during the lockdown phase of COVID-19, countless individuals relied upon their companion dogs and cats. Given the strong connections people often have with their companion animals, this study hypothesized that companion dogs and cats would positively impact guardians’ mental health. Anonymous, cross-sectional online surveys were used to test this premise. A total of 5061 responses, primarily females (89%) from the United States (84%), were analyzed. Results suggest that companion animals played a critical role in helping reduce feelings of depression, anxiety, isolation, and loneliness for a majority of pet guardians. Companion animals also helped increase guardians’ experiences of self-compassion, ability to maintain a regular schedule, feel a sense of purpose and meaning, and cope with uncertainty. This was most pronounced for women under the age of 40 who were highly bonded to their companion animal. In conclusion, our study suggests that a companion dog or cat can buffer the effects of extreme stress and social isolation as witnessed during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Highlights
The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) was initially reported in December 2019 in Wuhan, China, and within months manifested into a global pandemic [1]
Given the strong connections people have with their companion animals, and the potential benefits of companion dogs and cats, this study hypothesized that companion dogs and cats would positively impact guardians’ mental health
The main aims of the study were (1) to discover the impact of companion cats and dogs on their guardians’ COVID-19 related feelings; and (2) to determine how sociodemographic, psychosocial, or human–animal attachment factors may help predict this impact on psychosocial adaptation to COVID-19
Summary
The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) was initially reported in December 2019 in Wuhan, China, and within months manifested into a global pandemic [1]. To mitigate the potential spread of COVID-19, numerous governmental agencies issued public health mandates requiring social distancing and the wearing of masks [3]. These first months of COVID-19 created numerous stressors for many, including social isolation, fear of exposure, and job insecurity, creating a collective emotional contagion of pervasive anxiety [4,5]. Efforts to contain the virus forced people to quickly adapt to dramatic changes to their daily lives. Social interaction restrictions required many businesses—including healthcare services and veterinary offices—to quickly shift their mode of operations to remote settings or alternative services. Quarantine guidelines resulted in social isolation from family, friends, coworkers, and many of the activities that nurture coping capacities
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