Dogs and the Good Life: A Cross-Sectional Study of the Association Between the Dog–Owner Relationship and Owner Mental Wellbeing

Abstract

Dog ownership is believed to benefit owner wellbeing but, contrary to popular belief, there is limited evidence to suggest that simply owning a dog is associated with improved mental health. This mixed-methods study investigates whether dog owners with stronger relationships with their dogs experience better mental health. Participants (n = 1,693, adult United Kingdom dog owners) completed an online survey. Owners’ health was measured using the validated PROMIS questions regarding depression, anxiety, emotional support, and companionship. The dog–owner relationship was measured using the validated MDORS scale, which has three subscales: interaction, emotional closeness, and perceived costs. Univariable and multivariable linear regression analyses were conducted, adjusting for confounding factors. Additionally, positive and negative impacts of dog ownership on mental wellbeing were coded from open questions using thematic analysis. A stronger dog–owner relationship was associated with greater feelings of emotional support and companionship but poorer mental health in terms of anxiety or depression. However, the perceived costs (burden) subscale was consistently associated with better mental health outcomes. Direction of causality cannot be inferred as people with poor mental health may acquire dogs to help relieve symptoms, which qualitative analysis supported. Key themes included positive impacts on owner wellbeing and happiness through providing purpose, companionship and self-acceptance, pleasure and distraction, as well as lessening emotional pain and suffering and reducing risk behaviors. However, negative impacts of a strong relationship include anticipatory grief over loss of the dog, and concerns regarding the burden of responsibility and ability to meet dog’s needs. Perceived ability to adequately meet dog’s needs promoted personal growth and positive relationships with others, whereas perceived inability led to feelings of guilt, or anger/frustration, and reduced autonomy and sense of environmental mastery. Dog ownership contributes to both hedonic and eudaimonic wellbeing in multiple ways, including supporting owners through periods of poor mental health and providing purpose. However, the burden of responsibility and owner and dog characteristics can create challenges, and owners may benefit from support in caring for their dogs and reducing problematic behaviors.

Owner expectations and surprises of dog ownership experiences in the United Kingdom

“…Beyond everyday worries, owners in this study also reflected on their surprise regarding the emotional distress felt when dogs die. Some respondents' comments suggest that greater attachment with a dog may be positively associated with the severity of grief experienced or anticipated when dogs die, which echoes findings from previous research (51,(55)(56)(57)(58). Consistent with the contradictory findings in existing literature (51) our research suggests both positive and negative perceived impacts of dog ownership on owner's wellbeing exist.…”

“…Consistent with previous literature ( 47 , 51 ) respondents associated strong human-dog attachments with the emotional support or comfort they perceived their dogs as providing them with. Whilst evidence indicates that prospective owners often anticipate mental and physical benefits ( 15 , 36 ), many respondents in this study reported these as taking them by surprise, suggesting that this is another aspect of ownership that may be difficult to fully comprehend prior to acquisition.…”

Young adults’ views on the mechanisms underpinning the impact of pets on symptoms of anxiety and depression

“…This sense of responsibility facilitated behavioral activation, encouraging young adults to engage in healthy activities such as physical exercise and time in nature, thus enabling them to stay well. It should be noted, however, that physical exercise was not as prominent a theme in our emerging adult data as it has been in other studies with older adults and family studies ( 60 , 61 ). This may be attributed to the inclusion of companion cats in our study or to the living situations of our sample whereby many young adults lived with parents, meaning potential shared responsibilities such as dog walking.…”

Pet’s influence on humans’ daily physical activity and mental health: a meta-analysis

“…There is some evidence that suggest that physical activity and pet ownership can both have positive effects on mental health outcomes ( 11 ). Engaging in regular physical activity has been shown to be associated with improved mental health, including decreased symptoms of depression and anxiety, as well as increased feelings of well-being and self-esteem ( 32 ). Thus, it is possible that physically active pet owners may have better mental health outcomes compared to non-pet owners, as they may benefit from both the physical activity and the social support and companionship provided by their pets ( 28 , 94 ).…”