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The Psychology of the Human-Animal Bond pp 167–177Cite as

Pet Ownership and Health

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Abstract

The relationship between naturally occurring pet ownership and health, both physical and mental, is reviewed. Key methodological issues are discussed at the outset and the emphasis of the review is on recent literature. Collectively, the body of work is inconsistent, with some studies showing profound benefits of pet ownership, some showing no advantage, and others demonstrating poorer health outcomes among pet owners relative to non-owners. What may be most useful to researchers and practitioners at this juncture is not whether pet ownership facilitates good health, but under what circumstances might pet ownership facilitate it. Accordingly, this review describes some of the circumstances in which pet ownership appears to act as a moderator variable in regard to health, and incorporates theoretical approaches that provide a context for understanding the relationship. Recommendations for future research include focusing on quality of life, recruiting ethnically diverse samples, and enlarging the policy applications of the work.

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Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Community Health Sciences, School of Public Health, University of California, Los Angeles, CA, USA

    Judith M. Siegel

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  1. Judith M. Siegel
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Correspondence to Judith M. Siegel .

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Editors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Psychology, Tennessee State University, Nashville, 37209, USA

    Christopher Blazina

  2. Department of Psychology, Tennessee State University, Nashville, 37209, USA

    Güler Boyraz

  3. Department of Psychology, Tennessee State University, Nashville, 37209, USA

    David Shen-Miller

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Siegel, J.M. (2011). Pet Ownership and Health. In: Blazina, C., Boyraz, G., Shen-Miller, D. (eds) The Psychology of the Human-Animal Bond. Springer, New York, NY. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4419-9761-6_10

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