Pet Ownership Does not Reduce Severe Mental Disease Symptoms

Living with and bonding with a companion pet does not always result in significant mental health gains in those with major mental illnesses, according to studies.

According to a survey conducted by the University of York, living with a pet—say, a dog, cat, fish, or bird—does not improve well-being or reduce depression, anxiety, or feelings of loneliness in owners with serious mental illnesses such as bipolar disorder or schizophrenia when compared to those who do not live with a pet.

The findings contradict the widely accepted idea that pets improve mental health and well-being in all settings, according to the researchers, who followed up on an earlier survey performed in 2021 on investigating elements of pet ownership and mental health during COVID-19.

In a poll of 170 UK participants with major mental illness, 81 reported having at least one animal, and more than 95% said their animal gave company, continuity in their lives, and made them feel loved.

Dogs and cats were found to be the most commonly owned pets, in line with the general population. The majority of individuals felt a strong attachment with their animal.

However, no statistically significant improvements in mental health or feelings of loneliness were discovered in the study when compared to persons with major mental illness who did not have a pet.

The team discovered that having a pet was associated with a self-reported decline in mental health among people with serious mental illness in the 2021 survey, which may have been due to pandemic restrictions and the challenges of caring for their pet in the context of the lockdown.

Dr. Emily Shoesmith, from the University of York’s Department of Health Sciences, said, “It is now increasingly assumed that companion animals are beneficial for all owners’ mental health in most or all circumstances, but this may not be the case.

“The pandemic provided a unique opportunity in which to look more closely at this question, and we found that while many participants with serious mental illness reported that their animal was a ‘lifeline’ during this time, the benefits may have been outweighed by the additional stress and anxiety caused by caring for an animal in the lockdown context.

“These new data were collected after pandemic restrictions had been lifted, and although we found small improvements in terms of reported well-being outcomes since the previous survey, we did not find that pet ownership was significantly associated with enhanced well-being, depression, anxiety, or loneliness.”

Despite this, the majority of participants reported a strong human-animal link with their closest companion animal, and that their animal provided them with company and a source of steadiness in their lives.

According to the researchers, companion pet may still be an important part of the social networks of people with severe mental illnesses, but more research is needed to understand the nuances of the relationship, such as whether the type of pet makes a difference, as well as other external factors that may cause additional stress.

Dr. Elena Ratschen, from the University of York’s Department of Health Sciences, said, “One possible explanation for our current findings could be that the added responsibility of pet ownership may still exacerbate other potential stressors experienced by people living with severe mental illness. This includes the cost of food, veterinary bills and uncertainty over housing.

“The findings suggest that the nature of human-pet interactions is complex. The bond between owners and animals was perceived to be high in this study and is undoubtedly very important in people’s lives.

“It is not necessarily reasonable, however, to assume that it is a means to improve symptoms of serious mental illness or disperse feelings of loneliness in a highly disadvantaged population of people with these illnesses.”

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