Having a pet can improve your mental health, according to new research

Your dog's more than just a cute face

Seeing your pet get excited whenever you walk through the door can easily put a smile on your face, but according to new research, they can also boost your overall health. 

Whether they're dopey, stoic, cuddly, or constantly excited, our pets can always make a bad day better.

And according to new research, they do a lot more than just make us smile – being around your dog or cat can boost your overall health. 

Other than providing loving companionship and a cute cheerful face to look at daily, there’s evidence that our dogs or cats can support our social and physical needs, reduce stress and improve our sleep.

Meeting our social needs

According to the RSPCA, pets can ‘buffer feelings of loneliness and isolation, facilitate social connections, act as social lubricants, and offer social support’.

New data from pet insurer Budget Direct supports this, with 93 per cent of 1000 Australians polled by them admitting they talk to their dogs and cats like they are humans.

Our pets are great silent communicators too, with 32 per cent of respondents saying they were sure their pets understand them, and another 28 per cent saying their dog or cat is a ‘great listener’. 

So show this to the next person who makes fun of you for chatting to your dog while walking around the house.

According to the RSPCA, pets can ‘buffer feelings of loneliness and isolation, facilitate social connections, act as social lubricants, and offer social support’. Image: iStock

Reducing stress and anxiety

You may have already noticed your breathing slowing when you’re petting your dog or cat, because in addition to making us happier, our pets are also great for our mental health.

Vice President of the Australian Association of Psychologists Inc Karen Donnelly insists that “in a home setting, dogs can help their humans relax and get grounded when feeling anxious and stressed.”

Pets provide ‘motivation, companionship, stress relief and comfort’, and help us maintain healthy routines, as per the RSPCA. 

You may have already noticed your breathing slowing when you’re petting your dog or cat, because in addition to making us happier, our pets are also great for our mental health. Image: iStock

Just petting an animal is enough to improve your mental health. 

According to Johns Hopkins Medicine, ‘Research has shown that simply petting a dog lowers the stress hormone cortisol, while the social interaction between people and their dogs actually increases levels of the feel-good hormone oxytocin (the same hormone that bonds mothers to babies).’

Medical director of Johns Hopkins’ Beacham Center for Geriatric Medicine, Jeremy Barron said these changes can work to lower our blood pressure. 

Improving our sleep

Whether you immediately kick your pet off your bed or have adapted to constantly finding fur weaved into your sheets, our animals love sleeping near us.

And a study from Mayo Clinic found that people sleep better with their pet just being in the same room as them. 

Lead author of the study Dr Lois Krahn said that on top of improving our quality of sleep, going to bed with your pet nearby can provide comfort to us and our dog or cat. 

“To have a purring cat or a well-behaved dog nearby may be very relaxing and conducive to sleep… provided everyone sleeps well, it can be a benefit,” she said.

Though this study said sharing the bed with a disruptive pet can result in disrupted sleep, another study found that women specifically reported sleeping better next to a dog than their human partners. 

The survey of 962 women suggested that snuggling our dogs at night makes us feel comfortable and secure.

And a study from Mayo Clinic found that people sleep better with their pet just being in the same room as them. Image: iStock

Getting us moving

Budget Direct’s polling found that 41 per cent of dog owners exercise their pet at least once a day, while 26 per cent exercise them every other day.

Not only are we maintaining our dog’s physical health and routine, but regular walks are contributing to our recommended 2.5 – 5 hours of walking each day. 

Our cardio fitness is also benefitting from this routine, with the American Heart Association endorsing dog ownership to fend off cardiovascular disease.

We know getting outdoors and exercising can help support our mental health too, so your dog's actually looking out for you when he stares at you from the front door and demands a walk.

So if you're feeling overwhelmed, stressed or down, time with your pet may be great therapy to make you feel better. 

Originally published as Having a pet can improve your mental health, according to new research