Introduction
Pet ownership and its relation to human health attract high levels of attention. The growing desire derives from the exciting belief that some therapy is hidden in pets. One central query in this research entails an investigation into the extent to which owning a pet has a considerable impact on improving the quality of human life. Although it may appear just as a mere curiosity, this inquiry has significant impacts on the field of public health and psychology. As more families bring pet animals into their homes, it is necessary to explore and understand the positive contribution pets make to our homes. This probing has not just provided routes for further scientific studies; it is evidence of the eternal relationship humans have with their beloved pets.
Research Question
The research question at the heart of this inquiry is: Is pet ownership beneficial to people’s health? The question represents an emerging concern about the substantial effects of owning a pet on human happiness. The issue needs to be examined in detail as the impact of this issue extends over many people’s lives. The deep investigation becomes necessary due to its essential implications on informed public health policies, psychological interventions, and individual welfare. The number of people who own pets increases all the time. Hence, it is essential to establish how much humans benefit or what advantage they receive from these animals.
Summary of Existing Research
The relationship between pet ownership and its consequences for human health has been of immense interest recently. The health-related benefits of pet ownership have been studied in different populations and aspects of mental and physical health. Another prevailing topic in literature is how pets like cats and dogs can ease the loneliness and social isolation felt by seniors. According to Stanley et al. (2014), pet ownership might mitigate loneliness among elderly primary care patients living in solitude. Similarly, studies by Hui Gan et al. (2020) looked at how pets relate to depression in older people. Pet ownership was shown to alleviate social isolation, reducing loneliness and creating feelings of camaraderie and solace. These results demonstrate that pets could help combat isolation and for such susceptible groups.
Several research articles reveal the benefits of pet ownership on an individual’s health. A study by Adams et al. (2017) on how dogs promote students’ mental health in college. Mueller et al. (2021) also emphasize how dogs help people cope with stress and improve their overall well-being. In studies done by Barker et al. (2020), it was found that owning pets is related to social support among students and low depression or anxiety. The therapeutic effect of pets that reduces stress, anxiety, and depression depends on the emotional attachment between the pet and its owner.
Studies concerning pet ownership and health have focused more on age-specific nuances. The study by Hughes et al. (2020) centered on companionship animals among older people and how critical they are to seniors. In this case, a systematic review showed that pet ownership was related to better mental and physical health in this population. Hui Gan et al. (2020) points out that having pets may even improve mental well-being in the old. Adams et al. (2017) and Scoresby et al. (2021) suggest that the advantages of keeping pets transcend the older community. It is due to their effects on people, implying that these positive effects are applicable in different cohorts.
However, some studies have looked at human-pet bonding and how it relates to mental fitness. Douglas et al. (2021) examined pet attachment as it pertains to the interpersonal theory of suicide. An excellent attachment to a pet significantly reduces suicide risk in line with the protective role of such attachments toward severe mental disorders. The bond between an owner of a pet and his/her animal goes deep, which explains the positive health impacts that come along with keeping pets. The extant studies demonstrate the possible ramifications for the population’s health and quality of life. They highlight that pet ownership lowers loneliness and contributes to a better quality of life for seniors. These studies underscore the possibility of including pet ownership as part of a care plan for patients. With pet bonding continuing to be an integral part of humans’ lives, learning how to take advantage of its related health benefits will become more critical going forward.
The Gap in the Literature
While present research reveals certain benefits of owning an animal, some findings have their limitations. For instance, some studies, such as that by Barker et al. (2020), only focus on college students with minimal consideration for how pets can influence different populations. Though a few changes to improve mental health were enacted, as per Adams et al. (2017), the specific mechanism behind the impact has not been entirely probed. The second issue deals with most of the writing being directed toward animals like dogs and cats while leaving out others that people consider their pets. Therefore, it is essential to undertake further specific research that will shed light on how pets affect different groups of people, uncover the primary mechanisms at work, and examine how diverse animals influence health and wellness differently.
Rationale for a Narrower Research Question
Most prior investigations concentrated on the positive effects of pet ownership on the social and psychological health of the students. Evaluating whether these benefits solely involve this category and transcend it is needed. Furthermore, a study carried out by Barker et al. (2020) demonstrates additional evidence of how pet-assisted social support benefits college students’ well-being. Still, can this close relationship be observed throughout other stages, such as adulthood and aging? For instance, Douglas et al. (2021) point out that it may be that being a pet owner protects against severe mental illness. Hence, additional focused studies are required to ascertain whether such protective impacts apply to other age groups besides college students.
Older people who own pets have better mental and physical health. Hughes et al. (2020) conducted a systematic review of the health implications of pet ownership for elderly individuals. Nevertheless, it is vital to explore whether such effects spill over to other age cohorts – particularly young adults to understand the generalizability of these health benefits. Similarly, Hui Gan and others (2019) looked into the role played by pet ownership in older people, thus reinforcing the idea that pets have a positive effect on older people’s mental status.
However, for a complete assessment, it is necessary to investigate whether these observations are relevant and valid concerning the population as a whole. Stanley et al. (2014) looked into how pets may reduce loneliness for older people. It raises a query if the effect manifests itself in other demographic cohorts who might have a similar sense of loneliness, for instance, among the youths. Hence, it necessitates a narrower research question focusing on possible variations in pet ownership and its impact on the loneliness of people from various backgrounds, such as age.
Development of the Research Hypothesis
Common themes in previous studies have guided the development of the research hypothesis. The literature collectively points toward health benefits, less loneliness, and more social support associated with pet ownership. The hypothesis emerges: Pet ownership improves mental health in all ages.” This hypothesis means for it to expect improvement when anyone owns a pet regardless of age.” It is based on recurrent results across different studies suggesting that such analysis should be undertaken for pet owners’ well-being across ages and populations.
Rationale for Hypothesis
The reason for this hypothesis that pet ownership promotes mentally good health among all ages is based on the continuous results in the journal. For instance, Barker et al. (2020) and Adams et al. (2017) highlight the connection between pet ownership, social support, and excellent health, especially among college students. Hughes et al. (2020) and Hui Gan et al. (2020) found that pet ownership by older people was positively associated with improved health outcomes. Such recurring themes suggest that the advantages attributed to the ownership of pets might be universal. Therefore, a hypothesis inclusive of different age groups is appropriate to understand the link between pet ownership and human health fully.
Conclusion
In summary, the collective evidence derived from prior research strongly indicates that the act of owning a pet has a positive impact on individuals’ overall well-being. Numerous studies have consistently indicated that the presence of pets can effectively mitigate feelings of loneliness, diminish stress levels, and offer emotional solace, thereby resulting in enhanced mental well-being. Moreover, investigating the connection between individuals and their pets highlights the potential safeguarding effects of pet attachment in mitigating severe mental health conditions.
References
Adams, T., Clark, C., Crowell, V., Duffy, K., Green, M., McEwen, S.,… & Hammonds, F. (2017). The mental health benefits of having dogs on college campuses. Modern Psychological Studies, 22(2), 7. Web.
Barker, S. B., Schubert, C. M., Barker, R. T., Kuo, S. I. C., Kendler, K. S., & Dick, D. M. (2020). The relationship between pet ownership, social support, and internalizing symptoms in students from the first to fourth year of college. Applied developmental science, 24(3), 279-293. Web.
Douglas, V. J., Kwan, M. Y., & Gordon, K. H. (2021). Pet attachment and the interpersonal theory of suicide. Crisis: The Journal of Crisis Intervention and Suicide Prevention. Web.
Fine, A. H. (2017). Standing the test of time: Reflecting on the relevance today of Levinson’s pet-oriented child psychotherapy. Clinical child psychology and psychiatry, 22(1), 9-15. Web.
Hayden-Evans, M., Milbourn, B., & Netto, J. (2018). ‘Pets provide meaning and purpose’: a qualitative study of pet ownership from the perspectives of people diagnosed with borderline personality disorder. Advances in Mental Health, 16(2), 152-162. Web.
Hughes, M. J., Verreynne, M. L., Harpur, P., & Pachana, N. A. (2020). Companion animals and health in older populations: A systematic review. Clinical gerontologist, 43(4), 365-377. Web.
Hui Gan, G. Z., Hill, A. M., Yeung, P., Keesing, S., & Netto, J. A. (2020). Pet ownership and its influence on mental health in older adults. Aging & mental health, 24(10), 1605-1612. Web.
King, B., McGlinn, M., & Duberstein, A. (2023). Mutuality and well-being: The human–animal bond. The Humanistic Psychologist, 51(2), 133. Web.
Mueller, M. K., King, E. K., Callina, K., Dowling-Guyer, S., & McCobb, E. (2021). Demographic and contextual factors as moderators of the relationship between pet ownership and health. Health Psychology and Behavioral Medicine, 9(1), 701-723. Web.
Scoresby, K. J., Strand, E. B., Ng, Z., Brown, K. C., Stilz, C. R., Strobel, K.,… & Souza, M. (2021). Pet ownership and quality of life: a systematic review of the literature. Veterinary sciences, 8(12), 332. Web.
Stanley, I. H., Conwell, Y., Bowen, C., & Van Orden, K. A. (2014). Pet ownership may attenuate loneliness among older adult primary care patients who live alone. Aging & mental health, 18(3), 394-399. Web.