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Having a pet can help cope with stress during lockdown

According to a new survey, having a pet at home could help people maintain better mental health and reduce loneliness during the lockdown period. The findings were published in PLOS One.

Researchers at the University of York and the University of Lincoln conducted a survey of 5926 participants, nearly 90 per cent of whom had at least one pet animal.

Over 90 per cent of respondents reported that their pet helped them cope emotionally with the lockdown. 96 per cent of respondents said their pet helped them to remain fit and active. The strength of the human-animal emotional bond did not vary significantly between species.

Poorer mental health before lockdown was associated with a stronger human-animal bond (P=.002). Pet ownership versus non-ownership was linked to smaller decreases in mental health (P=.005) and smaller increases in loneliness (P=.001) during the lockdown.

However, there is also a flip side of having pets. 68 per cent of individuals who owned a pet said they were worried about their animals during lockdown, with respect to access to veterinary care and exercise. They were also worried about who would care for their pet if they fell ill.

Additionally, the survey found that people also enjoyed interacting with animals that were not pets. Nearly 55 per cent of respondents reported watching and feeding birds in their garden.

Professor Daniel Mills, a co-author of the study, said: "This work is particularly important at the current time as it indicates how having a companion animal in your home can buffer against some of the psychological stress associated with lockdown. However, it is important that everyone appreciates their pet's needs too, as our other work shows failing to meet these can have a detrimental effect for both people and their pets."


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