Researchers found that people who exercise freely with their dogs and maintain a sedentary lifestyle have better outcomes in terms of their physical fitness than other pet owners, according to a study published in BMC Psychology.
Previous research has suggested that owning a dog can increase physical activity and boost mental health, but few studies have examined these findings simultaneously. This new study sought to see whether dog ownership is associated with any mental health effects, as well as whether these associations are statistically consistent.
The research team, led by Kirili Zablan from Deakin University in Australia, focused on how dog ownership and physical activity may affect mental health, particularly in the context of loneliness.
The study conducted by Zablan and co-authors involved analysing responses from 588 Australian companion animal owners (76% female) who were aged 18 to 84 and owned a pet. They used questionnaires to evaluate various aspects of dog ownership, physical activity, depression, anxiety, and loneliness.
Dog owners were found to be more active than those who owned other pets, such as cats, birds, or fish. In addition, the results indicated that dog owners engaged in more physical activity than individuals who did not own other pets.
However, mental health outcomes were only related to non-dog activities such as running, exercising (exercising), and participating in outdoor activities involving dogs (such as walking).
The study showed that people aged 50 to 80 had similar levels of loneliness across companion animal breeds. It was also interesting to note that loneliness was a significant contributor to mental health outcomes. Young adults, on the other hand, reported higher levels of depression and anxiety, which were affected by this moderate loneliness.
The study’s cross-sectional design precludes causal inferences, and the sample size was disproportionately female, the researchers noted.
Zablan and colleagues emphasized the importance of not encouraging people to adopt dogs solely for their mental health. They also suggested that purchasing a dog with the intention of improving one’s mental health would not produce optimal outcomes. Furthermore, exaggerating the welfare risks of owning a dog for this reason increases the risk of neglect and harm.
Dogs can help reduce mental health concerns, but the most beneficial treatment is regular exercise.
Kirily Zablan, Glenn Melvin, and Alexa Healey conducted a study on the relationship between pet ownership, physical activity, loneliness, and mental health in older adults and young adults.