Feeling down or lonely? Lacking confidence? Shy?
Have you considered getting a pet?
In 2011, American researchers published an article in the Journal of Personality and Social Psychology exploring the connection between pet ownership and well-being. They studied over 370 people spread among 3 studies, and what they found was that pet owners tend to fare better than those without pets.
Here are 12 mental health benefits to owning a pet, according to the study:
- Pet owners have greater self esteem
- Pet owners exercise more and are more physically fit
- Pet owners are less lonely
- Pet owners are more conscientious
- Pet owners are more extroverted
- Pet owners are less fearful
- Pet owners are less preoccupied
- Pet owners have a positive sense of self
- Pet owners have less depression
- Pet owners are more subjectively happy
- Pet owners have less perceived stress
- Pets can mitigate the negative effects of rejection
So, if you don’t already have a pet and your mental health is not where you’d like it to be, consider pet ownership in your holistic mental health treatment.