Research investigates the mental health impact of pet ownership on people with severe mental illness.

Britain has been described as a nation of pet lovers, with over half of UK households owning a pet. Pet ownership has been linked to improved mental health and emotional support. Yet, for individuals living with severe mental illness, the impact of animal ownership is less clear. A recent UK study explored whether owning a companion animal could positively influence mental health and wellbeing among this specific population.

The pet effect

The ‘pet effect’ is a term used to describe the positive health and wellbeing benefits that owning a pet can provide. These can include physical health improvements, including cardiovascular and fitness, especially for owners who walk their dogs. There are also reported mental health benefits to owning a pet, such as feeling less stressed, anxious and depressed.

However, research has also pointed to potential negative associations, including increased feelings of depression and loneliness, especially when strong attachment bonds are involved. While the general population and targeted subgroups like children and older adults have been studied extensively, fewer studies have focused on people living with severe mental illness.

New research into pet ownership

The survey included 170 participants from an existing UK cohort of individual’s diagnosed with severe mental illness (schizophrenia and other psychotic disorders). Participants completed a comprehensive survey that included standardized measures of mental health (depression, anxiety, and loneliness), overall wellbeing, and the Comfort from Companion Animals Scale to gauge the perceived strength of the human-animal bond.

The results revealed that nearly half of participants owned a pet, and most reported having a strong bond with their companion animal. However, statistical analyses revealed no significant association between pet ownership and owners’ wellbeing, depression, anxiety or loneliness scores. This outcome was consistent even when controlling for key demographic factors such as age, gender, and socio-economic status.

Complex relationship

The results act as a counterpoint to the commonly held assumption that pets are beneficial for their owners’ mental health, including wellbeing, depression, anxiety and loneliness. Instead suggesting that for some people, the negatives related to owning a pet may neutralise any benefits, resulting in a net change of zero. Although further research is needed to determine what these positive and negative aspects are for different populations of pet owners.

Further studies are also needed to understand how human-animal relationships interact with social and economic challenges faced by people with severe mental illness. For individuals with severe mental illness, the emotional and financial responsibilities of pet ownership may negate or overshadow potential benefits. Socio-economic factors, including financial constraints, can amplify the stress of caring for a pet, turning a potential source of comfort into a burden.

Conclusions

Overall, the findings of this research suggest that the associated mental health benefits derived from pet ownership may not be present for some populations, despite reporting a strong bond with their pets. Future research could use a qualitative approach to better understand the challenges pet owners with serious mental illnesses face, with the aim of identifying opportunities to reduce these obstacles and maximise the benefits of pet ownership.

Key study findings:

• Participants were strongly bonded to their pets
• No relationships between pet ownership and owners’ mental health and wellbeing were observed
• The finding acts as a counterpoint to the belief that pets can improve their owners’ mental health