The strong bond between humans and their pets is easy to see, so many researchers have been interested in how it affects humans. But even without research, it’s known that children, teenagers, adults, and the elderly all find joy in their pets, which automatically links it to mental health.

Of course, studies also verify the benefits of pets for mental health. Animals help in overcoming depression, stress and anxiety. In addition, animals provide us with joy, unconditional love, and companionship, so we feel less alone.

So how does living with animals help us?

1. Pets reduce our stress

Research surrounding pets and mental health shows that petting and playing with animals reduces stress-related hormones, even after just ten minutes of communication and contact with a pet. Therefore, pets are beneficial for those suffering from stress and anxiety. Playing with an animal your activity increases the levels of our serotonin and dopamine hormones. When these hormones are secreted, it calms the nervous system.

Furthermore, a relationship with a friendly animal reduces cortisol levels, the hormone released from stress. It increases oxytocin – a chemical found in the body that naturally reduces mental stress. The physical act of caressing lowers the blood pressure level. Therefore, it reduces the feeling of anxiety.

2. Pets help overcome anxieties in children

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention research, pets protect children from anxiety. 643 children participated in the study, most of whom have pet dogs at home. The researchers measured the children’s biological data, anxiety levels, physical activity, and screen time. They discovered from the test that all the children had similar data, but their anxiety levels differed. 21% of the children who did not have a pet dog face anxiety.

In contrast, only 12% of children with dogs face anxiety. It was, therefore, possible to conclude that animals positively affect stress and anxiety in childhood. As a result, children who grow up with pets have a better chance of becoming happy and healthy people.

3. Pets make a person feel needed

When we are responsible for caring for someone, we feel needed and wanted, so the act of caring has mental health benefits. Taking care of an animal gives us purpose and meaning in life, even if it is a puppy that can no longer communicate with its owner. In a 2016 study on pets and mental health, seniors were given a pet for eight weeks compared to a group of seniors who did not receive pets. As a result, the participants who received animals became less happy after eight weeks compared to those in the group without the animals. Thus, the researchers concluded that caring for living creatures improves mental health, and doing things for the benefit of the pet reduces feelings of depression and loneliness.

4. Pets make us value ourselves more.

In a study on self-esteem, two groups were examined, those who have pets and those who do not. This characteristic was the only significant difference between the two groups. The first group shared that their animals increased their sense of belonging, self-esteem, and meaning because they felt the animal’s appreciation for them. Another study included 97 undergraduates with an average age of 21. This study found that pets can help teens feel better after experiencing rejection or rejection. The teenagers were asked to write about a time when they felt excluded and then to write about their favorite pet and to write about their favorite friend. According to the respondents’ responses, pets were just as effective as good friends in combating feelings of rejection.

5. Pets support recovery from mental illness

Pets are beneficial to people recovering from difficult mental conditions. Many magazines have examined how cats, dogs, rabbits, and even goldfish have affected the mental well-being of people living with mental illness. Pets have helped participants in many surveys and interviews manage their emotions. In addition, it was a distraction for them from the symptoms of their mental state. An interesting fact that emerged from interviews with Loki Nefesh is that some of them were afraid of harming themselves because they were worried about the fate of their animals if they were no longer with them. Moreover, therapy with the help of a pet gives a sense of control, security, and routine.