New Study Suggests Dog Owners Are Happier Than Cat Owners
We’ve known for years that pets are good for our physical well being, but very little clinical research has been done on the effects they have on our mental health.
Researchers just released a new study that looked at the effect our pets have on our well being, and whether they have an effect on some major personality traits.
To us dog lovers the results might not be surprising, but it is a great step at providing further proof that they do have a positive effect on our mental health.
New Study Finds Dog Owners Are Happier Than Cat Owners
The study found that pet owners were more satisfied with their life compared to pet owners, but they didn’t find any other major differences in their well being. But when the researchers dug deeper into the cat vs dog owners they did find some key differences.
Turns out dog owners are happier than cat owners, at least according to the new study released by Manhattanville College.
Dog owners were happier than cat owners, which can be partially explained by personality, emotion regulation style, and need satisfaction. – Examining the Association Between Pets & Well-Being, Manhattanville College
The study also found that dog owners were less neurotic and more conscientious than cat owners, and that dog owners were more extroverted and agreeable.
Previous Research Found Similar Personality Differences
This isn’t the first time research found personality differences in dog & cat owners. Last year the University of California released a study that found cat owners to be more creative and anxious than dog owners, and that dog owners were more extroverted. Here’s the video that accompanied their findings:
How the Research Was Performed
263 American adults were recruited for the study, ranging in age from 19 to 68. They were asked to identify their primary pet and then filled out a questionnaire that included how they rank themselves on the big five personality traits (extraversion, agreeableness, neuroticism, conscientiousness & optimism) and how they viewed their own well-being.
For comparison the study that was performed last year by the University of California had 1098 participants.
Conclusion
Though this study is limited in it’s scope let’s hope that it’s the beginning of a new trend that looks into the benefits animals have on our well being. Along with the VA’s current research on the effectiveness of PTSD dogs for veterans these studies can help prove what many of us have known all along – dogs are great for our mental health.
I could definitely see this. My cats drive me nuts where as my dogs make me happy. I love them all but we are seriously considering not having cats again when these ones pass away. I will always have dogs.
I miss my cat dearly but I think I’ll be sticking with dog ownership as well, it’s hard to imagine a life without a dog by my side.
As a huge dog lover I absolutely agree with this study. Dogs are amazing and make life happier.
I can’t really see why that would be but hey, you never know! I was wondering if it could somehow be related to income and people with dogs being more likely to afford more – just because dogs are more expensive to care for. But then I’m making an assumption about income and happiness so that’s not really true either.
I can’t really figure out why either. The only thing I could come up with is that in general people that are more outgoing might lean more towards getting a dog but even that seems like too simple an explanation.
This article makes it sound like cats are bad for mental health but that’s not what the study is saying. Owning a pet, whether cat or dog, is beneficial.
Cats and dogs both are really helpful for mental health it all depends on your preferences. Being a lover of both dogs and cats, I would say absolutely NOT – no one of them is better than the other.
From a very unbiased point of view, cats and dogs both are incredible animals in their own ways. the main difference is that dogs LOVE being around other people, whereas cats sometimes need more personal space. https://esacare.com/qualifying-for-an-esa-letter-guide/