Pets & Wellbeing: 15 Benefits of Emotional Support Animals

As I write, my dog lies beside me, snoring.

He’s our companion, colleague, friend, and family member.

Despite ignoring most commands and eating what he shouldn’t, he is deeply loved and the ideal listener.

While often boisterous, when approached by a child or someone elderly or less able, he yields and becomes passive. They give him a rub or a hug, and he gives them acceptance and love without judgment.

And it’s no surprise. The emotional bond between a pet and a human can be as intense as with another person and brings similar psychological benefits (McNicholas et al., 2005).

This article discusses how pets benefit our mental health and the emotional support they bring.

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15 Benefits of Pets for Mental Health

Many research studies have confirmed the positive effects of keeping pets. Indeed, health professionals increasingly recognize their value in treating mental and physical conditions (McNicholas et al., 2005).

Pets offer companionship and so much more.

Many people experiencing mental health problems report that the combination of caring for animals and the unconditional love they receive back is life changing, improving their mental wellbeing and their quality of life (Robinson, 2020).

When we think of our ancestors’ behavior, such connections are to be expected.

Humans have been keeping pets and building working relationships with animals for well over 10,000 years (Barras, 2018; Page, 2020). It is no surprise then that many pets – dogs in particular – can understand words we use and recognize our tone of voice, gestures, and body language.

Having someone (nonhuman) that needs us and can gauge how we feel without expectation or judgment is hugely valuable.

Mental health charities have recognized the importance of pets and often promote pet ownership for its psychological and physical health benefits (Mental Health Foundation, 2018; Lundgren, Robinson, & Segal, 2020):

Owners of pets:

• Are less likely to suffer depression
• Have lower blood pressure during stressful situations
• Display reduced levels of triglyceride and cholesterol (high levels can be indicators of heart disease)
• Survive longer after having a heart attack
• Make 30% fewer visits to the doctor after the age of 65
• Live longer

More generally:

• Playing with pets increases levels of serotonin and dopamine, promoting calm and relaxation.
• Pets provide companionship and fulfill the basic human need for touch. Contact is particularly important for people who are lonely or who have not previously experienced mutual affection.
• Prisoners have exhibited long-term behavioral changes after interacting with pets.
• Pets improve the quantity and quality of socialization, providing conversation points when meeting people out walking.
• Pets require regular feeding, exercise, and attention and can bring structure to the day.
• Hugging and stroking an animal provides almost immediate relief from stress and anxiety.
• Dogs in particular encourage healthy outdoor exercise that improves physical and mental wellbeing.
• Older adults (including those with Alzheimer’s disease or dementia) can find more meaning and joy in life, stay more connected, and boost their vitality through pet ownership.
• Children learn more compassion, empathy, and responsibility, strengthening their emotional intelligence, through having pets. Such interaction can be beneficial for children with attention deficit-hyperactivity disorder and autism.

While we associate many of the benefits with dogs and cats, other animals have also been shown to improve their owners’ wellbeing, including fish, rabbits, birds, snakes, and lizards.

Whether the direct effect is psychological or physiological, indirectly, it all contributes to mental wellbeing.

The Psychology Behind Emotional Support Animals

Emotional support animals have been shown to help people manage their mental health issues, with individuals citing the benefits that their dogs, cats, and even ferrets have in managing panic attacks, anxiety, and depression.

Campaigners argue for such animals to be considered as service animals rather than pets and viewed as assistive aids in the same way as wheelchairs (Von Bergen, 2015).

The importance of animals to people’s lives embraces a “broader definition of health that encompasses the dimensions of wellbeing (physical and mental) and a sense of social integration” (McNicholas et al., 2005).

There are at least three different ways of looking at the association between pet ownership and its apparent health benefits (McNicholas et al., 2005):

1. There is no direct association. Other factors that impact the decision to own a pet confer health benefits to the owner.
2. Pets improve social interaction with other humans, reducing loneliness and social isolation and indirectly improving wellbeing.
3. The pet–human relationship provides emotional support that directly benefits human health and wellbeing.

The value behind pet ownership is most likely a combination of the above. Besides, we should remember that good health is far more than the absence of illness and involves satisfaction of basic psychological needs and quality of life (Ryan & Deci, 2018).

Furthermore, we do not need to own animals to receive the associated mental health benefits.

Indeed, emotional support animals are increasingly used in mental health settings to provide individuals with the following (Jau, 2014):

• Company and comfort
• Social interaction
• Social skills and belonging
• Structure and life balance
• Life skills
• Passionate caring
• Sense of achievement
• Fun and enjoyment

Caring for animals encourages social interaction and the development of social skills, and interacting with them offers comfort and company. All of which improve mental health and wellbeing (Jau, 2014).

Jasmin Jau (2014) carried out a series of interviews with patients who have had prolonged mental health issues to understand how animal-assisted interventions had helped.

Results of her research confirmed the value of animals in improving patients’ lives.

Underlying each of the above benefits was the promotion of one or more of the following psychological factors (Jau, 2014):

• Social support hypothesis
  Animals provide nonjudgmental social support through their perceived unconditional love.
• Social connection
  Belonging and connectedness are an integral part of mental health and wellbeing (Shochet, Dadds, Ham, & Montague, 2006). “Animal interaction can act as the vehicle through which social connection may be enhanced or increased” (Jau, 2014).
• Provision of structure
  Caring for animals requires structure and routine. Such a balanced approach to life can facilitate recovery from mental health disorders (Martell, Dimidjian, & Herman-Dunn, 2010).
• Altruistic behavior
  Helping others, including nonhumans, leads to feelings of being useful. Altruistic behaviors have been shown to benefit social relationships and self-acceptance, and promote a sense of purpose in life (Wink & Dillon, 2007).
• Learning and development
  An essential part of interacting with animals includes learning and developing new skills. Improving problem solving and critical thinking in one area can be transferred to other areas of life (Jau, 2014).
• Activity and interest
  Mental illness, such as depression, is often characterized by a lack of interest and inactivity. Individuals caring for animals report an increased sense of engagement (Jau, 2014).

Working with and caring for animals not only promotes stress reduction and improved quality of life, but also encourages social and community interaction. This combination offers a complete, multidimensional approach to promoting mental wellbeing (Brooks et al., 2018).

Why Are Animals Good for Our Wellbeing? 5 Research Findings

Over the last decade, several studies have shed light on our relationships with animals and their benefit to our mental wellbeing.

In a detailed review of the existing literature, Brooks et al. (2018) set out to understand:

• The impact of pets on our mental health
• What mechanism underlie these effects

Based on the findings from 17 studies that investigate pet ownership, the benefits can be grouped into the following themes (Brooks et al., 2018):

Easing worry, providing comfort, reducing sense of isolation and loneliness

Pets “provide unique emotional support because of their ability to respond to their owners intuitively, especially in times of crisis” and when they were feeling most isolated and alone (Brooks et al., 2018).

Indeed, research showed that people often confided in their pets when unable to do so with other people. They felt safe to open up without being judged.

Physical activity and symptom distraction

Dog ownership in particular was associated with physical activity. Pets also appeared to help in a very practical sense, distracting and disrupting owners’ focus on unwanted symptoms or upsetting experiences (including panic attacks, hearing voices, and suicidal thoughts).

The presence of the pet was often associated with lessening symptoms by:

• Introducing humor into the situation
• Grounding the situation
• Providing the owner with the opportunity to engage in caring activities: brushing, stroking, feeding, etc.

Individuals reported requiring less medication while feeling more positive and an increased sense of self-efficacy.

Conduits to social interaction and emotional nourishment

The presence of animals can lead to an increase in the quality and quantity of social interactions.

Several studies reported pets increased interactions with family, friends, and the local community. They cited several reasons including increased confidence in engaging with others (including in more difficult conversations) while the pet was present and the motivation to venture outside.

Sense of self-worth, identity, and existential meaning

Two of the studies in the review suggested that having pets led to an increased sense of meaning in tasks and participants feeling better about themselves as individuals.

Participants reported that they felt a heightened sense of identity and self from having to care for and protect their pet.

Disadvantages

The review, however, added a note of caution. There can be downsides to pet ownership and the management of mental health disorders (Brooks et al., 2018). Challenges for pet owners include:

• Financial burden
• The inevitable death of the pet
• Potential housing issues
• Implications of unruly pet behavior

Brooks et al. (2018) uphold the view that having pets, including dedicated companion animals for the general population, can positively affect people’s mental wellbeing, particularly those diagnosed with mental health disorders.

They summarize by saying that pets benefit people with mental health conditions “through the intensity of connectivity with their owners and the contribution they make to emotional support in times of crises together with their ability to help manage symptoms when they arise” (Brooks et al., 2018).

A Look at 10 Animal Therapy Modalities

Animal-assisted therapy can have a broad impact and be performed and experienced in several ways, including (Fine, 2010):

• As part of psychotherapy
• During counseling sessions
• In psychiatric treatment
• Treating at-risk children and youths
• In classrooms with general and specialist needs, including autism spectrum disorders
• In family settings
• With older age groups, including in care settings
• With palliative care (optimizing the quality of life and reducing suffering in those with severe or complex illnesses)
• In prison settings
• With war veterans

We look briefly at several examples of animal-assisted therapy settings below.

At-risk children and youth

Equine-facilitated psychotherapy has proved successful in helping at-risk adolescents in residential treatment. Engaging the residents with horses over seven months led to positive changes to self-image, self-control, trust, and general life satisfaction (Bachi, Terkel, & Teichman, 2012).

Psychiatric patients

Psychosocial treatment sessions involving dogs have been found to be effective in treating patients with chronic schizophrenia. After 10 weekly sessions, they were found to have an improved quality of life, increased motivation, and made better use of their leisure time than the control group (Nathans-Barel, Feldman, Berger, Modai, & Silver, 2005).

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War veterans

War veterans with post-traumatic stress disorder who were engaged in training service dogs were found by Yount, Ritchie, St. Laurent, Chumley, and Olmert (2013) to have improved sleep, decreased depression, improved parenting skills, and a lowered startle response to loud noises.

“The presence of the dog during a stressful situation or encounter changes the context of the arousal event and anchors the trainer in the present,” reminding the veteran that they are no longer in a dangerous situation (Yount et al., 2013).

Prison inmates

Equine-facilitated prison programs have had successful outcomes in U.S. correctional facilities.

Research suggests that inmates experience increased self-esteem, reduced recidivism rates, improved trust, and reduced loneliness (Bachi, 2013).

Cognitive therapy

Including dogs in Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy sessions has been shown to lower stress levels and increase the degree of therapy adherence (González-Ramírez, Ortiz, & Landero-Hernández, 2013).

Air travel

Air travel companies have invested time and money to accommodate animal therapy, including in the following contexts (Fleming, 2018; Goldstein, 2019):

• In the United States, animals are sometimes allowed to board flights, as long as a doctor has signed off to say it helps their owner manage a mental health condition. Delta Airlines flew with 250,000 emotional support animals in 2017.
• San Francisco International Airport has used a tutu-wearing pig named Lilou and a selection of dogs to calm passengers’ nerves.

Animals on campus

In recent years, mental health campaigners have petitioned “to keep animals on campus to mitigate [students’] mental impairments” (Von Bergen, 2015). While universities have raised concerns that their campuses will soon resemble zoos, students have cited the benefits of their animals in helping them handle depression and panic attacks (Von Bergen, 2015).

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A Take-Home Message

Anyone who has looked into the knowing eyes of an animal or witnessed the joy they display when you return home knows their value as companions.

Emotional support animals are “increasingly being recognized as holding significant relevance for the management of long-term health conditions” (Brooks et al., 2018). Research has confirmed the benefits of pet ownership and animal experiences in reducing stress, improving life quality, and promoting engagement in social and community settings (Brooks et al., 2018).

Perhaps, more than anything, pets offer an opportunity to share love and caring behavior with something living. The animal does not judge by appearance, social identity, or any of the superficial factors humans consider essential.

The relationship is straightforward and uncomplicated, and trust is gained by showing love and attention.

Why not review the literature and consider whether greater animal interaction could benefit you or your clients?

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