Im lonely should i get a pet

Read more: Is your dog happy? Ten common misconceptions about dog behaviour. So far, there have only been two similar studies to look at mental well-being in new dog owners, one of which was conducted almost 30 years ago.

Of these studies, one found dog owners had fewer symptoms of psychiatric disorders after they acquired a dog. The other study found no difference in loneliness after people brought a new dog home.

Dogs may also improve our physical health , by reducing blood pressure, improving cardiovascular health and increasing the amount of physical activity their owners perform. But, as is the case with mental well-being, the scientific evidence is still limited.

By chance, all the new dog owners in our study were women. Read more: Whose best friend? How gender and stereotypes can shape our relationship with dogs. Our next step is to look at mental well-being in a much bigger group of new dog owners to confirm these findings.

A bigger study could also provide more insight into the relationship between dog ownership and mental illness, such as depression and anxiety. Festival of Social Science — Aberdeen, Aberdeenshire. Birds can also make for a helpful companion, as they are loving as well as intelligent: they are often used as therapy animals, and you can even have a conversation with some of them!

Keep reading to determine which pet might be the right fit for you: 1. They help their owners to conquer anxiety. They boost our sense of self-esteem. They support social connections. Rabbits: Social Butterflies While dogs and cats get most of the attention and applause, there are other pets out there that people love just as much—like rabbits! Hamsters: Helpful Rodents I mean, how could you not love something with a face like that?

Explore the latest mental wellness tips and discussions, delivered straight to your inbox. Email Address. Dorreen Lillian Buck on July 4, at am. I want more info on companion doggies. Firstly are they real? Hi on April 29, at am. I really dont know Reply. Bailey hunter on March 5, at pm. My mini help with looney ness and they go the veteran home and special school and do service with them Reply. Keira on October 29, at am.

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For example, a dog can show you gratitude and affection by leaping into your arms and embracing you, although most humans wouldn't lick your face to show gratitude. And a cat could be secretly plotting your demise, as I have described previously for Forbes.

Companion animals can bring you outdoors and exercise, which could help you alleviate loneliness. Moreover, companion animals can prompt you to engage in healthy activities that may decrease your feelings of social isolation such as going outdoors and getting exercise. After all, you have to take a dog for a walk periodically, otherwise you may have some nasty surprise gifts waiting for you at home.

Companion animals can facilitate interactions with other humans as well. This was what a former medical school classmate of mine had in mind when he got a dog to help him meet women.

Studies have shown that pet ownership may be associated with lower degrees of loneliness. For example, published in BMC Geriatrics , an analysis of data from 5, older adults who were part of the English Longitudinal Study of Ageing, found that those who owned pets were less likely to report being lonely. It also found that people who did not report themselves to be lonely were more likely to own pets.

A study published in the journal Aging and Mental Health analyzed survey data from a sample of primary care patients who were 60 years and older. These studies don't necessarily prove that pets alone can alleviate loneliness as they show associations not causation.

Someone who is more likely to get an animal companion could also be more likely to maintain other aspects of his or her life that could alleviate loneliness. Would you put your human friend in a bucket? Photo: Getty Images. Murthy did caution that "companion animals do not replace human interaction.

But they can help when someone is struggling to establish meaningful human relationships. You still need someone to challenge you more, to question you if you are going to do something stupid, and to bring other points of view so that you can grow. Companion animals can't do these in the same way humans can. For example, you may not be able to hear it when your goldfish says, "screw you," while swimming away.

Plus, like any given human being, a companion animal can't be all things for you. Just like one person can't replace an entire social network, a companion animal will be limited in what he or she can do for you. For example, a companion animal can't participate in all the activities that you may want to do.