Reevaluating the Impact of Pets on Human Well-Being During COVID-19
A recent study has brought into question the widely held belief in a universal “pet effect” on human well-being.Utilizing data collected during the COVID-19 lockdowns, researchers discovered no significant change in individuals’ well-being after acquiring or losing a pet. These findings suggest that even during periods of extreme isolation, the emotional connections between humans and animals may not be as transformative as commonly perceived.
The Perception of Pets: A Double-Edged Sword?
Is there truly a match made in heaven between humans and their pets? Does welcoming a new dog into your home enhance happiness and alleviate loneliness? The association between pet ownership and improved health and happiness is prevalent; though, scientific evidence supporting this so-called ‘pet effect’—the proposed enhancement of life quality through companionship with animals—has been elusive. Just a few years ago, we faced an unprecedented global challenge—the COVID-19 pandemic—which forced people into isolation, limiting face-to-face interactions both socially and professionally.
Insights from ELTE Eötvös Loránd University
A team at ELTE Eötvös Loránd University investigated how acquiring or losing pets affected individuals during the pandemic. Their research was published in Scientific Reports. Eniko Kubinyi, head of the MTA-ELTE ‘Momentum’ Companion Animals Research Group, noted that they had access to unique data sets through collaboration with psychologists Zsolt Demetrovics and Róbert Urbán.”During the 2020 lockdowns in Hungary, nearly three thousand participants contributed data at three different intervals,” she explained. The study revealed that 65 individuals adopted pets while 75 experienced pet loss throughout this period; thus prompting an examination of how these events influenced their well-being over time.
The Findings: A Surprising Lack of Long-Term Benefits
The results provided minimal support for the idealized view often associated with pet ownership enhancing emotional well-being. While there was a brief increase in happiness following dog adoption, long-term effects showed declines in calmness, life satisfaction, joyfulness, and engagement among dog owners. Surprisingly enough, those who lost pets did not report any significant impact on their overall well-being.
A Closer Look at Pet Ownership Dynamics
Ádám Miklósi highlighted an critically important aspect regarding spontaneous pet acquisition: “We rarely have access to data documenting unplanned adoptions by individuals who are neutral about owning pets.” Typically studied are those already committed to adopting animals when opportunities arise. It appears that many casual caregivers—those who share living spaces with pets but do not take primary duty—are not significantly affected by their loss nor does it strongly predict their likelihood to adopt again.
The Misconception About Loneliness Alleviation
“What surprised me most,” remarked Judit Mokos—a data scientist involved in this research—”was that bringing a new pet into one’s home did not alleviate feelings of loneliness among respondents.” Dog adoption is frequently marketed as beneficial for older adults or those feeling isolated; shelters frequently enough promote it as a remedy for loneliness. However, this study indicates that dogs may inadvertently increase anxiety levels among new owners rather than provide genuine companionship.
Conclusions Drawn from Pandemic experiences
Kubinyi concluded by stating that according to their findings most people living with companion animals do not experience any lasting ‘pet effect,’ nor do they form strong bonds with these animals over time. It’s possible that pandemic-related stress led many to make impulsive decisions regarding long-term commitments or perhaps only specific groups—like dedicated animal lovers or seniors living alone—truly benefit from having pets during challenging times.
This research suggests that throughout the COVID-19 crisis, many people’s expectations regarding emotional connections formed with animals were ultimately unmet.