Are Benefits Of Owning A Furry Friend Overstated?

That is what a new research suggests; according to the research team, pet owners reported slightly worse mental health

The benefits of owning a pet might be overstated, researchers have said after tracking more than 6,000 people for 12 months, the finding contradicting the popular assumption of improved mental health of those having a pet.

In fact, the pet-owners reported slightly worse mental health outcomes compared to those who did not own one, the research team said. However, among a small group of the participants living alone, pet-owners were found to be less lonely than people having no pets.

“Although the body of research done on the topic has been mixed, we were genuinely surprised to find that pet owners generally experienced slightly higher levels of depression, anxiety, and anhedonia (loss of pleasure) during the COVID19 pandemic,” lead author Christine Parsons from Aarhus University, Denmark, said.