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Owning Dogs and Cats Doesn't Necessarily Boost Life Satisfaction, Swiss Study Finds
🇹🇷 Turkey /Health & Science

Owning Dogs and Cats Doesn't Necessarily Boost Life Satisfaction, Swiss Study Finds

From Cumhuriyet · () Turkish

Translated from Turkish, summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.

At a glance

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  • A Swiss study suggests owning pets does not automatically improve quality of life or health.
  • The research found no significant link between pet ownership and subjective health, life satisfaction, or loneliness.
  • The quality of the human-animal bond, rather than ownership itself, appears to be the key factor in well-being.

Contrary to the long-held belief that pet ownership invariably leads to greater happiness and better health, a recent study suggests that simply owning a pet does not automatically enhance one's quality of life or well-being. The research, published in the academic journal 'PLOS One' by a team at the University of Basel, Switzerland, analyzed data from over 2,300 Swiss adults.

The study examined various aspects, including whether individuals owned pets, the frequency of interaction with animals, the level of attachment, and psychological well-being. The findings revealed no distinct correlation between owning a pet and key indicators such as subjective health status, life satisfaction, or the reduction of loneliness. Interestingly, some data even suggested that pet owners perceived their health slightly worse and engaged in slightly more unhealthy behaviors compared to non-pet owners.

Our study shows that it is difficult to determine health or happiness based solely on whether one owns a pet.

— Rahel MartiProfessor Marti explaining the study's findings on pet ownership and well-being.

However, the researchers identified the quality of the relationship between the pet and its owner as the critical factor that does create a tangible difference in well-being. Individuals who spent more time with their pets and shared a deeper connection reported experiencing greater emotional support. This bond was found to be more pronounced in dog owners compared to owners of other pets, and more evident in women than in men.

Professor Rahel Marti, lead author of the study, emphasized that judging health or happiness solely based on whether someone owns a pet is insufficient. "Our study shows that it is difficult to determine health or happiness based solely on whether one owns a pet," Marti stated. "To understand how pets influence health and psychological well-being, we must also examine the relationship formed between people and their pets."

To understand how pets influence health and psychological well-being, we must also examine the relationship formed between people and their pets.

— Rahel MartiProfessor Marti highlighting the importance of the human-animal bond.
DistantNews Editorial

Originally published by Cumhuriyet in Turkish. Translated, summarized, and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.

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