A recent study published in BMC Psychology has found that while dog owners tend to be more physically active than other pet owners, it is the physical activity they perform independently of their dogs and their general exercise habits that are associated with better mental health.
Previous research has suggested that owning a dog can increase physical activity and improve mental wellbeing. However, few studies have examined these relationships together. This new study aimed to fill that gap by investigating whether dog ownership, dog-related physical activity, and non-dog-related physical activity are linked to mental health outcomes such as depression and anxiety, and whether these relationships differ between older and younger adults.
The research team, led by Kirrily Zablan from Deakin University in Australia, was interested in understanding how dog ownership and physical activity might influence mental health, particularly through the lens of loneliness. Loneliness is a major contributor to poor mental health, and the COVID-19 pandemic has highlighted the importance of social connections and physical activity for mental well-being.
To explore these questions, Zablan and colleagues conducted a cross-sectional study with 588 Australian companion animal owners (76% female), who were aged 18 to 84 years, and all of whom owned at least one pet. Participants completed questionnaires that measured dog ownership, physical activity, depression, anxiety, and loneliness.
The results showed that dog owners were indeed more active than people who owned other pets, such as cats, birds, or fish. Overall, the dog owners were engaged in higher levels of both dog-related and non-dog-related physical activity.
However, only non-dog-related physical activity – such as running, playing sports, or working out at the gym – was associated with better mental health outcomes. Dog walking and other pet-related activities did not seem to have the same impact.
Interestingly, the study also found that older and younger adult companion animal owners experienced similar moderate levels of loneliness, and that loneliness played a major role in mental health outcomes. Notably, in younger adults, this moderate loneliness was associated with higher levels of depression and anxiety compared to older adults.
The researchers noted several limitations of the study. For instance, the cross-sectional design means that causal inferences cannot be made, and the sample was skewed towards female participants.
Overall, Zablan and colleagues cautioned against encouraging people to adopt dogs purely for mental wellbeing reasons. They concluded that one who acquires a dog “with the sole purpose of improving their mental health is unlikely to experience mental health benefits. Furthermore, overstating the benefits of dog ownership on this basis poses significant potential welfare risks to individual dogs which may suffer neglect and relinquishment.”
While dogs may not be a cure for mental health struggles, they can still be valuable companions. However, the most effective way to improve mental health appears to be engaging in regular, independent exercise.
The study, “Dog ownership, physical activity, loneliness and mental health: a comparison of older adult and younger adult companion animal owners,” was authored by Kirrily Zablan, Glenn Melvin, and Alexa Hayley.