Effect of Pets on Human Health
Effect of Pets on Human Health
April 1, 2024
Joy Stepinski, MSN, RN-BC
If you have ever owned a pet, you may be well-familiar with the joy that they bring. Furry friends have an important place in the family. They provide companionship, love, faithful loyalty, and a daily focus of caring for another being. Additionally, studies show that our animals can have beneficial effects animals have beneficial effects on human health.
A systematic review [1] investigated the physical and mental influences that occur when caring for a pet. In relation to Bowlby’s Attachment Theory, the pet and owner establish a relationship with one another, creating a bond that leads to a sense of well-being.
Concerning physical health, the authors discussed studies that demonstrate a positive effect on cardiac health. In fact, in 2013, the American Heart Association issued a scientific statement concluding that pets, especially dogs, are associated with decreased cardiovascular disease risk [2]. Research has shown that pet owners exhibit lower blood pressure, reduced total cholesterol and triglyceride levels, and less obesity [1] than non-owners. Especially with dogs, owners also experience more physical activity.
Mental health is equally beneficial. Studies show that pets may decrease loneliness, reduce daily stress, and lessen depression and anxiety. Pets also play a positive role among patients with dementia. In one German study of 75 nursing home patients diagnosed with cognitive impairment [3], 35 residents were assigned to a 10-week animal-assisted therapy program and 40 residents received treatment as usual in the control group. Findings showed that agitation, aggression, and depression remained constant in the intervention group, but worsened in the control group.
In hospital settings, personal pets can play a large role in healing. If a personal visitation is not feasible, even therapy pets can decrease pain, blood pressure, and anxiety with low risk [4].
For pet lovers, furry friends can bring comfort, emotional support, better physical health, and healing.
References:
1. Hussein, S. M., Soliman, W. S., & Khalifa, A. A. (2021). Benefits of pets’ ownership, a review based on health perspectives. Journal of Internal Medicine and Emergency Research, 2(1), 1-9.
2. Levine, G. N., Allen, K., Braun, L. T., Christian, H. E., Friedmann, E., Taubert, K. A., ... & Lange, R. A. (2013). Pet ownership and cardiovascular risk: A scientific statement from the American Heart Association. Circulation, 127(23), 2353-2363.
3. Majić, T., Gutzmann, H., Heinz, A., Lang, U. E., & Rapp, M. A. (2013). Animal-assisted therapy and agitation and depression in nursing home residents with dementia: A matched case–control trial. The American Journal of Geriatric Psychiatry, 21(11), 1052-1059.
4. Barchas, D., Melaragni, M., Abrahim, H., & Barchas, E. (2020). The best medicine: personal pets and therapy animals in the hospital setting. Critical Care Nursing Clinics, 32(2), 167-190.