New research has looked at changes in human mental well-being once a dog is adopted, starting with loneliness.
He is about to end up run over, his mother saves himThe company of a dog makes us feel good mentally: those who own a pet are in fact less likely to suffer from depression. Having Fido at home, in short, is a guarantee of good mental health, because it can help you cope with anxiety and stress.
To say it is a new study that has analyzed the effects of the company of a dog on mental health starting from one premise: pets have evolved by attuning deeply to our behavior and our emotions. Dogs are able to understand many of the words we use, but they are even better at interpreting our tone of voice, body language and gestures. And like any good human friend, a faithful dog looks us in the eye to assess our emotional state and also understands what we are thinking, giving us comfort and support.
And this is how research published in BMC Public Health examined the changes in the state of human mental well-being once a dog is adopted, considering four measures: loneliness, positive and negative affection, and psychological distress.
A systematic review
For the new study, the researchers divided the participants into three groups:
- people without a dog and without interest in getting one;
- people who did not have a dog but were very interested in getting one in the future;
- people who had a dog within one month of starting the study.
Participants filled out surveys to measure their mood, assessing not only their overall happiness, but also symptoms of psychological distress such as loneliness or stress. The results showed that those who had recently owned a dog felt significantly less alone: the effect occurred within 3 months and there was no reduction for the entire duration of the study (8 months).
In short, a dog reduces the feeling of loneliness and guarantees a certain mental stability. Previous studies had already shown that the pampering given to our dogs lifts the mood, as well as their presence makes them rejuvenate and helps reduce the risk of heart disease, but it is also a source of happiness and mental stability.
Pets, especially cats and dogs, can reduce stress, anxiety and depression, relieve loneliness, encourage exercise and playfulness. Caring for an animal can also help children grow up more confident and active. Pets also provide valuable companionship for the elderly.
In short, a pet? It can add true joy and unconditional love to our life.
Read also:
- Like a dog it improves the health of the whole family. The scientific studies that confirm this
- How the dog improves life: 10 reasons not to do without it anymore
- Sweet eyes and oxytocin - that's why dogs are like babies
- This is why adopting a dog is good for you. The spot that moves the web (VIDEO)
Germana Carillo
