In our day to day we live immersed in a hectic routine, filled with obligations and chores. This often takes a toll on our mood and mental health. In 2022, 62% of adults recognized that stress affected their daily life at least once, while 34% declared that it affected their life often, according to an IPSOS survey.
To deal with stress we have multiple techniques, from playing sports to practicing meditation, going for walks in nature and, of course, having the help of a psychologist. But there is also a resource with which we can improve our physical and emotional well-being: taking care of a pet.
According to a study from the University of Oxford, when a person interacts with a dog or a cat, their physiological stress is reduced. Spending time with these animals can lower cortisol levels, the hormone responsible for humans feeling stress.
To this we must add the results of the study carried out by the Affinity Animals and Health Foundation Chair of the Autonomous University of Barcelona (UAB) on Social Support, which concluded that dogs and cats are an important source of emotional support, always available, thanks to their ability to provide companionship, empathy and affection, as well as their ability to detect and respond to human emotions without judging and without being affected by the same sources of stress as people.
Another study, also carried out by the Affinity Foundation during the pandemic, showed that the bond with pets intensified and that those who lived with both kittens and dogs coped better with this complicated stage. The Affinity Foundation echoes all this, on the occasion of its campaign
“Taking care of our dogs and cats means attending to their needs, playing with them, going for a walk, giving them love… this care is beneficial for our animals, and at the same time it has a positive effect on our own well-being, since it focuses us on the here and now, keeps us active, and helps us better cope with stress”, highlights the director of the Foundation, Isabel Buil. She adds that “caring for another being gives us the feeling of being useful and responsible for the happiness of the other, and that is very satisfying.”
As if this were not enough, having a pet also helps us reduce the time we spend consuming screens, the excessive use of which has several negative impacts on our well-being, especially among the youngest. Since dogs and cats provide companionship and entertainment, we reduce our use of screens. In addition, according to a study available in the National Library of Medicine, living with pets favors exercise and outdoor activities.
