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Pandemic-Era Dog Acquisition Linked to Later Well-Being Decline

In a small sample, dog acquisition during the COVID-19 pandemic was linked to a brief rise in cheerfulness, followed by potential declines in well-being, with effects varying by caregiving role and measure.

Conexiant

Acquiring a dog during the COVID-19 pandemic may have led to initial increases in cheerfulness, followed by a decline in overall well-being, according to a recent study.

Researchers conducted a longitudinal investigation to assess the psychological effects of pet acquisition and loss during the COVID-19 pandemic. The study utilized a nationally representative, stratified sample of 2,783 adults drawn from a computer-assisted web interview panel. This approach addressed prior methodological limitations by selecting participants who were not primarily recruited based on pet ownership interest and by capturing within-subject changes across time.

Among the sample, 65 participants (2.3%) acquired a pet, while 75 (2.7%) reported losing a pet. Pet acquisition resulted in a temporary increase in cheerfulness lasting 1 to 4 months. However, these initial gains were followed by declines in other well-being measures. Over time, participants showed reduced activity (Est. = −0.92) and lower WHO-5 scores (Est. = −0.64), along with diminished calmness and cheerfulness.

Cat acquisition was similarly linked to decreased activity (Est. = 0.83), though cat acquirers remained more active than dog acquirers. In contrast, participants who acquired pets classified as "other species" reported increased activity post-acquisition (Est. = 0.88), a pattern not observed among dog or cat acquirers.

Notably, the loss of a pet was not associated with significant changes in well-being across any outcome measured. The researchers noted that this finding may reflect the varied emotional investment in pet relationships or shared household caregiving responsibilities.

Data was collected at three intervals between March and October 2020. The team, led by Judit Mokos of MTA-ELTE Lendület “Momentum” Companion Animal Research Group, Budapest, Hungary, and colleagues, employed General Linear Mixed Models with bootstrapped estimates to examine standardized well-being scores based on the World Health Organization Well-Being Index (WHO-5) and additional measures including cheerfulness, calmness, and activity.

The researchers reported no competing interests.

Source: Scientific Reports