Pets and Mental Health: Lowering Stress
Moreover, interacting with a friendly dog reduces levels of cortisol, the stress hormone. And it increases the release of oxytocin—another chemical in the body that reduces stress naturally. That’s why animal-assisted therapy is so powerful.
Furthermore, the sensory act of stroking a pet lowers blood pressure. Therefore, it reduces stress. Consequently, studies have shown that dogs can help calm hyperactive or aggressive children.
In one study, a group of stressed-out adults was told to pet a rabbit, a turtle, or a toy. Touching the toy didn’t have any effects. However, stroking the rabbit or turtle relieved anxiety. In addition, even people who didn’t particularly like animals experienced the benefits.
Our Pets Make Us Feel Needed
People feel more needed and wanted when they have a pet to care for. The act of caretaking has mental health benefits. Caring for another living thing gives us a sense of purpose and meaning.
Furthermore, this is true even when the pets don’t interact very much with their caregivers. In a 2016 study around pets and mental health, elderly people were given five crickets in a cage. Researchers monitored their mood over eight weeks. Moreover, they compared them to a control group that was not caring for pets.
As a result, the participants that were given crickets became less depressed after eight weeks than those in the control group. Therefore, researchers concluded that caring for a living creature produced the mental health benefits.
Thus, doing things for the good of others reduces depression and loneliness.
Pets Increase Our Sense of Self-Esteem and Well-Being
Recently, psychologists at Miami University and Saint Louis University conducted three experiments on the benefits of pet ownership. Subsequently, the American Psychological Association published the results.
The studies showed that pet owners had improved well-being in various areas, including the following:
- Better self-esteem
- More physically fit
- Less lonely
- More conscientious and less preoccupied
- More extroverted
- Less fearful.
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