15 Jan Pets and Mental Health: How Furry Friends Offer Companionship and Reduce Stress

Since the day that early dogs first worked out that they might be able to snag a bone or two and maybe even a spot by the fire if they hung around early man’s caves, warding off predators and scavengers (although this is hard to believe, when you look at some of the handbag dogs of today – chihuahuas), we as humans have had a special relationship with the domesticable animal.

These days the title of “man’s best friend” is contested firmly between increasingly diverse strands of nature’s great tapestry – although according to the American Veterinary Medical Association, dogs remain the most commonplace pet in American households – the role that pets in general can play as a bulwark for your mental health is becoming increasingly clear, as this study by the American Psychiatric Association (APA) suggests.

“Overwhelming Positive Mental Health Impact”

As anyone with a psychiatry or mental health counseling masters online degree knows, mental health can be affected by many different factors, and the ways we look after our mental health can differ greatly from person to person. In a recent survey by the APA entitled the “Healthy Minds Monthly Poll,” psychiatrists found that the vast majority of pet owners considered their four-legged (or otherwise) friends a massive boon to their well-being; among cat and dog owners, for example, the proportion of those polled who agreed with this sentiment was 86-87%. 

Further, 88% of pet owners polled stated that they considered their pet a “part of the family,” but with (it appears) the advantage of not being able to speak, and as a result being overall less judgmental. While on an anecdotal level,  you can’t argue with the data. People love their pets and appreciate the influence that they have on their lives. Why is that?

Psychological and Emotional Benefits

There are many complex emotional benefits to having a pet. Still, they are fundamentally based on a simple concept: that pets provide a sense of unconditional love, and unquestioning companionship, in an otherwise volatile and uncontrollable emotional world. Although it must be said that every now and then you come across an animal that is just straight-up mean, for the most part, pets radiate affection and joy. Imagine the grin of a golden retriever when you get back in from work, or a cat nuzzling against your ankle while you’re snuggled up with a rom-com. 

There are tangible physiological benefits to engaging with your pets, too, with research demonstrating that only a few minutes of petting or stroking an animal (especially a furry one) can significantly lower stress levels and release endorphins, while also providing a focus for a meditation-style repeated action which can encourage mindfulness. In a slightly less tangible way, people seem to benefit too from the sense of purpose and meaning that having something to care for adds to their lives.

Lifestyle Benefits

There are also a significant number of peripheral benefits to pet ownership, which ought not to be dismissed as insignificant. For instance, pets can open up a myriad of new social opportunities, be that casual interactions with other dog owners in a dog park, or as part of a rare lizard-owning society (for example). 

Further, depending on your pet, they might encourage you (albeit non-verbally) to go out and get some exercise. Walking a dog, riding a horse, or chasing an escaped gerbil around your kitchen all in some way contribute to a raised heart rate, the release of endorphins, and a healthier lifestyle. 

In a similar vein, some people benefit enormously from the regularity and routine that responsible pet ownership necessitates – mealtimes, exercise, and simply the need to consistently check in on something can provide convenient points for grounding yourself throughout the day, and keep yourself focused in reality, rather than the abstract. 

Of course, you must be careful to pick a pet that suits you, and for which you can provide both financially and emotionally. However, once you are sure of these two provisos, pet ownership (as shown above) can provide a revolutionary positive change to your lifestyle, making you happier, healthier, and more social – it’s definitely something to consider. 

Editor’s note: This piece discusses mental health.

If you or  a loved one who is in danger of suicide or has made a suicide attempt, make sure someone stays with that person. Call 911 or your local emergency number immediately.Call or text 988 or chat at 988lifeline.org.

• If you or someone you know is struggling or in crisis, help is available. Call or text 988 or chat at org. To learn how to get support for mental health, drug or alcohol conditions, visit FindSupport.gov. If you are ready to locate a treatment facility or provider, you can go directly to FindTreatment.govor call 800-662-HELP (4357).
• S. veterans or service members who are in crisis can call 988 and then press “1” for the Veterans Crisis Line. Or text 838255. Or chat online.
• The Suicide & Crisis Lifeline in the U.S. has a Spanish language phone line at 1-888-628-9454 (toll-free).

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Last Updated on January 15, 2025 by Marie Benz MD FAAD