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Not much beats the feeling you get when your pet gazes into your eyes as you pat them. People simply love connecting with animals. There’s proof that it’s good for us, too. Dr Luke Martin, clinical psychologist and spokesperson for Beyond Blue, says a 2021 survey shows around three in four pet owners report improved mental health as a result of owning their pet¹. “Our Beyond Blue community backs this up, regularly telling us how much the bond they share with their pet supports their mental health,” he says. “Depression and anxiety can make us want to shut out the world, but our pets, and our responsibility to them as owners, gently nudge us to stay connected and engaged in life.”
Cuddling up with a cute fur friend just feels good – but there’s also science behind those happy feelings. Dr Luke says studies show that interacting with an animal has a calming effect on our nervous system, which reduces our experience of stress and also helps us cope better during difficult situations². “There is preliminary research that shows gazing into your dog’s eyes might release feel-good hormones like dopamine and oxytocin,” he says.³
The positive effects go way beyond simply being with your pet. If you have a dog, you’ll need to take it for regular walks, which has many benefits for good mental health: company, exercise, connection with other pet owners and routine. Being responsible for a pet’s wellbeing also gives us purpose and a reason to get out of bed in the morning. And you only have to see a dog romping about in the water or a cat chasing a ball to be reminded not to take life too seriously and to try to live in the moment.
Australia has one of the highest rates of pet ownership in the world, and Dr Luke says the joy and routine a pet brings to a family can benefit children’s mental health. “Children also rank pets highly as providing feelings of security, companionship, self-esteem and comfort⁴. Dog ownership, in particular, is associated with increased physical activity for kids, which improves their overall health,” he says.⁵ The same goes for those who have additional needs, or older people. Assistance dogs can provide valuable emotional and practical support, and have been shown to reduce anxiety and depression⁶. “If you’re feeling lonely or upset, your pet is there with unconditional love and comfort. Taking time to give your pet a scratch behind the ear or a tummy rub can help you get through a difficult moment,” says Dr Luke.
¹habri.org/pet-owners-survey.
²researchgate.net/publication/249390276.
³pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/19124024.
⁴ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5369070.
⁵ijbnpa.biomedcentral.com/articles/10.1186/s12966-023-01544-9.
⁶pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/35918827.
Check out all the ways Bunnings can kit you out with essential pet supplies.
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