Pets Have Overwhelming Positive Impact on Mental Health, APA Poll Finds

A strong majority of Americans who have pets regard their pets as part of the family, and most feel that their pets have a positive impact on their mental health, according to the latest findings from APA’s Healthy Minds Monthly Poll.

“People recognize that there is something special about bonds between humans and their pets,” said APA President Rebecca Brendel, M.D., J.D., in a news release. “The animals we bring into our lives and our families play many roles from non-judgmental companions that we love to key partners in reducing our stress and anxiety. Americans clearly recognize that our relationships with our pets can have noticeable benefits for our overall mental health.”

The Healthy Minds Monthly Poll was fielded by Morning Consult from February 10 to 12, with a sample of 2,200 adults. The margin of error was plus or minus two percentage points.

Among the survey respondents, 50% said they had dogs, 35% said they had cats, and 31% said they did not have any pets. Roughly 3% said they had other pets such as birds, fish, turtles, or others.

Among pet owners, 88% said they consider their pets to be part of the family. Furthermore, 86% said their pets have a mostly positive impact on their mental health, including 87% of dog owners, 86% of cat owners, and 62% of other pet owners.

Those who said their pets positively affect their mental health said their pets do so in the following ways:

• Help reduce stress and anxiety (69%).
• Provide unconditional love and support (69%).
• Offer companionship (69%).
• Provide a calming presence (66%).
• Are true friends (63%).

Cat owners were more likely than dog owners to say their pets offer companionship, provide a calming presence, and help reduce stress and anxiety. Dog owners were twice as likely as cat owners to say their pet encourages them to be physically active.

When asked how much they worried about various stressors related to pets, 71% said they worried about their pets aging or passing away, 66% worried about their pet’s health conditions, 58% worried about health care expenses for their pet, and 56% worried about making travel-related arrangements for their pet.

Among respondents who did not own pets, 29% said they could not afford a pet, 22% said they did not have time to take care of a pet, and 11% said they were mourning a deceased pet.

“The benefits of pet ownership to many Americans seem to outweigh the stressors,” said APA CEO and Medical Director Saul Levin, M.D., M.P.A. “If pets are not an option for your family, but you are seeking that connection, there are many opportunities to volunteer with animals that may also benefit your life.”

APA invites you to share the word and pictures of your pets this month on social media with the hashtag #Paws4MentalHealth. Learn more.

(Image: iStock/GlobalP)

Nearly 1 in 3 Americans Anticipates More Stress Over Holidays This Year

More than 30% of adults said they expect to experience more stress this holiday season compared with the last, with half worried about affording holiday gifts. Yet adults were also less worried about spreading or contracting COVID-19 at a holiday gathering compared with last year. The findings are the latest from APA’s Healthy Minds Monthly Poll.

“This is a busy time of year for many people, and it’s common to put a lot of expectations on ourselves during the holidays,” APA President Rebecca W. Brendel, M.D., J.D., said in a news release. “We can all benefit by enjoying moments that bring meaning and belonging, but those times are different for each of us. It’s also okay to opt out of some or all events if they bring more stress or distress than joy. There is no one right way to spend the holiday time of year.”

The Healthy Minds Monthly Poll was conducted by Morning Consult from November 9 to 14 with a sample of 2,209 adults. The margin of error was plus or minus two percentage points, and the interviews were conducted online.

Younger adults and those making less than $50,000 were more likely to express worry about affording gifts and holiday meals over the holidays. Further, parents (39%) were more likely than respondents who were not parents (27%) to say that they anticipated experiencing more stress this holiday season compared with last year.

Respondents were asked to consider what they were most looking forward to during the holidays, including seeing family and friends, eating good food, taking time off, giving and receiving gifts, and more. Most adults (47%) said they were most looking forward to seeing family and friends this holiday season.

Additional findings include the following:

• The rate of adults who anticipated feeling stressed about this holiday season rose 9% compared with last year (31% vs. 22%).
• Between October and November, adults have remained consistently anxious about inflation (82%) and the recession (75%).
• 18% of respondents were worried about spending time with family who have views different from their own about COVID-19, compared with 30% last year.
• 19% of respondents were worried about discussing politics at a holiday gathering compared with 26% last year.
• Parents, and moms specifically, reported a decrease in anxiety about the COVID-19 pandemic compared with last year.

“While Americans are looking forward to seeing family this year, it’s important to remain vigilant about COVID-19, the flu, and RSV,” APA CEO and Medical Director Saul Levin, M.D., M.P.A., said in the release. “We are in a different situation than in 2020 or even 2021, but it’s still important to take precautions and stay home if you are sick.”

For related information, see the Psychiatric News Alert “Nearly 4 in 10 Americans Experience Declining Mood in Winter, APA Poll Finds.”

(Image: iStock/benimage)

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