During the lockdowns that occurred to varying degrees during the pandemic, many people took the opportunity to acquire a dog, cat, or other pet. Many spent more time at home and then it might have been suitable to have a pet as company.
Now, researchers at Eötvös Loránd University in Hungary have compiled data from survey studies that were conducted repeatedly during the pandemic among 3,000 people. Of these, 65 stated that they had acquired a pet and 75 that they had lost one during the period.
Not many seemed worse
The participants had answered questions about, among other things, their well-being. The researchers saw no connection between how the participants felt and whether they had acquired or lost a companion animal. Shortly after someone acquired a dog, a certain increase in joy was noted, but in the long run, the individuals' calm, life satisfaction, or feeling of joy was not affected by the pet.
The researchers were most surprised that pet owners did not seem to feel worse when their pets died.
"It was also surprising that pet owners did not feel less lonely about having a pet, rather more anxious,” says Judit Mokos, one of the researchers behind the study, which is published in Scientific Reports in a press comment.
No devoted animal lovers
Acquiring a dog is often said to be good for reducing the feeling of loneliness, but it does not seem to be true in this study.
Perhaps, the researchers reason, the pandemic led to many impulsive decisions regarding pets, and that other groups that are more devoted animal lovers would show other positive effects of pets.
