Pets are often considered to be good for our mental health, providing companionship, comfort, and support.
However, a new study suggested that this may not be the case for everyone, especially for people with severe mental illness, such as bipolar disorder or schizophrenia.
The study, published in the CABI journal Human-Animal Interactions, found that owning a pet did not improve the well-being, depression, anxiety, or loneliness of owners with severe mental illness, compared to those who did not own a pet.
The study also found that the strength of the bond between owners and their pets did not affect their mental health outcomes.
The study was conducted by a team of researchers from the University of York, who surveyed 170 UK participants with severe mental illness.
Of these, 81 owned at least one pet, such as a dog, cat, fish, or bird. The researchers measured the participants' mental health and well-being using standardized questionnaires and scales.
They also assessed the perceived bond between owners and their pets using a validated scale.
How pets may not help owners with severe mental illness
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The researchers found that owning a pet was not significantly associated with any of the mental health outcomes they measured, as per Phys.org.
In fact, some owners reported that having a pet added to their stress and anxiety, due to the cost, responsibility, and uncertainty of caring for an animal.
The researchers also found that the type of pet did not matter for the mental health outcomes. Whether owners had a dog, cat, fish, or bird, their well-being, depression, anxiety, and loneliness scores were similar to those who did not have a pet.
Moreover, the researchers found that the bond between owners and their pets did not affect their mental health outcomes either.
Whether owners felt a strong or weak attachment to their pets, their well-being, depression, anxiety, and loneliness scores were similar to those who did not have a pet.
The researchers suggested that these findings may be explained by several factors.
First, they argued that owning a pet may not be enough to overcome the complex and chronic challenges faced by people with severe mental illness.
Second, they proposed that owning a pet may not provide the same benefits as having meaningful human relationships.
Third, they speculated that owning a pet may not suit the preferences and needs of some people with severe mental illness.
How pets may still help owners with severe mental illness
The researchers acknowledged that their findings contradict the commonly held belief that pets are beneficial for everyone's mental health, as per Mirage News.
They also recognized that their study had some limitations, such as relying on self-reported data and having a small sample size.
However, they emphasized that their study does not mean that pets are harmful or useless for people with severe mental illness.
Rather, they suggested that pets may have different effects on different people depending on their individual circumstances and preferences.
The researchers recommended that more research is needed to understand the factors that influence the relationship between pets and mental health. They also advised that people with severe mental illness should consult with their health professionals before deciding to get a pet.
The researchers concluded that owning a pet is not a one-size-fits-all solution for improving mental health. They argued that pets should be seen as one of many possible interventions that may or may not work for different people.
