Pets to Act as A Buffer against Psychological Stress during Lockdown, Study Suggests

Jan, 2021 - By SMI

According to a new collaborative study led by the researchers of University of York and the University of Lincoln reported to associate pets to play a vital role in maintaining better mental health and reducing loneliness during lockdown. Researchers also reported that around 90% of the participants (out of 6000 participants) in the study agreed their pets to be a source of significant support during the lockdown period and 96% of the participants reported that their pet helped them in remaining fit and active during lockdown.

Dr. Elena Ratschen, Lead author, from the University of York stated, “Findings from this study also demonstrated potential links between people's mental health and the emotional bonds they form with their pets. We also discovered that in this study, the strength of the emotional bond with pets did not statistically differ by animal species. It will be important to ensure that pet owners are appropriately supported in caring for their pet during the pandemic.”

Researchers also suggested that this study focuses on how having a pet animal at home can reduce psychological stress associated with COVID-19 lockdown. Moreover, it is vital for a pet owners should understand the requirement of their pet, if failed then these can have an unfavorable effect on both pet owners and their respective pets. In addition, researchers also reported that bird watching was the most popular interaction with animals and around 55% of people surveyed reported about watching and feeding birds. Researchers also noted that the research finding is not based on any clinical significance and do not confirm that acquiring pets at home can protect the mental health during the lockdown due to pandemic.