A groundbreaking study recently published in the esteemed CABI journal Human-Animal Interactions challenges the prevailing notion that companion animals provide significant emotional benefits to individuals with severe mental illness, such as bipolar disorder or psychosis. The research, conducted by a team of scientists from the University of York, explored the relationship between animal ownership and mental health among 170 participants in the UK.
The study revealed that owning an animal did not have a significant impact on well-being, depression, anxiety, or loneliness scores of individuals with severe mental illness. These findings counter the commonly held belief that animals have universal therapeutic effects on owners’ mental health.
The researchers also investigated the role of the human-animal bond in this context. While most participants perceived a strong bond with their closest companion animal, this perceived bond did not correlate with improvements in mental health. The type of animal owned did not have a noticeable influence either.
Surprisingly, previous data collected during the COVID-19 pandemic showed that animal ownership was associated with a decline in self-reported mental health. However, the current study, conducted after the removal of pandemic restrictions, saw a marginal increase in well-being scores. Although depression and anxiety scores were not collected in the 2021 study for comparison, the slight improvement in well-being suggests that the pandemic context might have affected the results.
Dr. Emily Shoesmith, the lead author of the study, offered an interpretation for these findings. She suggested that the added responsibilities of animal ownership, such as the costs of food and veterinary bills, as well as housing uncertainty, may exacerbate other potential stressors experienced by individuals with severe mental illness.
In contrast to companion animals, trained therapy animals specifically selected and taught to be friendly, obedient, and have a relaxed personality trait have been shown to enhance the well-being of individuals with mental health illnesses. This difference might be attributed to the temperament and characteristics of the animals.
Dr. Elena Ratschen, the Human-Animal Interaction research theme lead, emphasized the need for further research to better understand the complex relationship between humans and animals in the context of severe mental illness. Future studies should explore the mediating factors that influence this relationship and the specific requirements of individuals living with severe mental illness who own animals.
Despite the lack of significant mental health benefits, the researchers noted high levels of attachment to animals among participants. Over 95% reported that their animals provided companionship, consistency, and a sense of love. This suggests that animal ownership may offer similar benefits to individuals with severe mental illness as it does to the general population, making companion animals a valuable part of their social network.
The scientists acknowledge that their findings, combined with previous research, indicate that the belief that animals universally benefit well-being may not hold true for all members of certain sub-populations in different contexts. Therefore, a more nuanced understanding is necessary.
More information: Shoesmith et al. The influence of animal ownership on mental health for people with severe mental illness: Findings from a UK population cohort study, Human-Animal Interactions (2023). DOI: 10.1079/hai.2023.0027
Citation: Pets do not significantly benefit the emotional health of owners with severe mental illness, study shows (2023, July 14) retrieved 14 July 2023 from https://phys.org/news/2023-07-pets-significantly-benefit-emotional-health.html
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