Document Type
Blog Post
Publication Date
2022
Abstract
Surveys show that most pet owners are convinced that living with companion animals improves their mental health and psychological well-being. However, many research reports have found that the mental health of pet owners is not measurably better than that of people without a pet. The isolation and stress associated with COVID lockdowns afforded investigators an opportunity to test this "pet effect paradox." Contrary to conventional wisdom, a large majority of studies found pets have little or no impact on human mental health during pandemics.
Recommended Citation
Herzog, H. 2022. What you didn’t know about having a pandemic pet Psychology Today May 27 https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/animals-and-us/202205/what-you-didnt-know-about-having-pandemic-pet
