New research investigates whether pet ownership can support the mental health of remote workers.

“Can you jump on a call?” is a phrase I hadn’t heard prior to the Covid-19 pandemic, which changed the way we worked and thrust remote technology into the forefront. Owing to these changes, more people than ever now work from home, and although this comes with benefits (e.g., spending more time with pets), it also brings challenges (e.g., an increase in micro-interruptions).

Micro-interruptions, including impromptu meetings and unexpected calls, have been shown to have a negative effect on employee mental health and performance. However, recent research has revealed that companion animals can play an important role in mitigating the negative consequences of micro-interruptions, improving employee mood and mental health.  

New research into pet ownership

The study included 169 participants, 82 pet owners and 87 non-pet owners, who worked remotely as teleworkers. Using a five-day diary design, the study captured participants’ daily experiences of micro-interruptions, mood, and mental health, for five consecutive workdays.

The findings showed that daily micro-interruptions increased participants’ negative feelings, which in turn had a knock-on impact on their mental health. However, importantly, this increase was smaller for participants who owned companion animals, who reported less negative affect and better mental health, even when interruptions were frequent.

The impact of micro-interruptions

The findings of this study support the idea that companion animals can act as emotional buffers, mitigating the negative impact of stress by providing their owners with companionship and emotional support. This is especially important for remote workers, such as people working from home, who experience fewer social interactions during a day.

The research calls attention to the protective mental health effect that pets can have, and therefore the importance of considering pets in work policies and practices. As the way we work continues to change, the positive emotional and mental health impact of companion animals can be a lifeline for remote workers.

Key study findings:

• Micro-interruptions were positively related to negative affect
• Negative affect impacted participants’ mental health
• Pet owners experienced fewer negative consequences from micro-interruptions
• Pet owners reported less negative affect and better mental health