Many years of research have been done on the relationship between pets and mental health, and science has shown that pets can help mental health in many ways.
One way pets help mental health is by making people feel less stressed and anxious. Cortisol is a hormone that is linked to stress. Studies have shown that spending time with pets can lower cortisol levels. This can make you feel less anxious and help you calm down.
Pets can also make people happier and make the signs of depression go away. Pets can offer comfort and emotional support through their companionship and love that isn’t conditional. This can lead to a better mood and overall mental health.
Pets can also bring people together and make people feel less alone. Having a pet can give you a sense of purpose and responsibility, which can help you feel better about yourself and more fulfilled.
Also, pets can make you healthier physically, which can be good for your mental health. Activities like walking a dog or playing with a cat can make you more active and less likely to get chronic diseases, which is good for your health and well-being as a whole.
Here are a few examples of scientific studies that support the idea that pets are good for your mental health:
A study published in the International Journal of Workplace Health Management found that people who brought their dogs to work felt less stressed throughout the day than people who didn’t bring their dogs to work.
Reviewing 17 studies, the journal BMC Psychiatry found that having a pet was linked to a lower risk of depression and better mental health overall.
A study in the Journal of Personality and Social Psychology found that pet owners had higher self-esteem and were more outgoing in social situations than people who didn’t have pets.
A study in the Journal of Behavioral Medicine found that dog owners who regularly walked their dogs had lower blood pressure and were more active than dog owners who didn’t regularly walk their dogs.
These and other studies show that having a pet can be good for your mental health and overall well-being.
Overall, a growing body of scientific research supports the link between pets and mental health. This research shows the many ways that pets can help people’s mental and physical health.