Are Pet Parents Really Happier and Healthier?

Are Pet Parents Really Happier and Healthier?

Sure, we all love our pets, but did you know that they legitimately make us happier, healthier people?

It’s true. According to Psychology Today, recent studies have shown that “pets represent important social relationships” and that “pet owners exhibited greater self-esteem, were more physically fit, were less lonely, were more conscientious, were more socially outgoing, and had healthier relationship styles.”¹

In fact, Psychology Today has also found that dog owners reported that their furry pals “provided them greater sense of belongingness, meaningful existence, control and self-esteem” and therefore decreased their stress, feelings of depression, and loneliness.

You may have heard how people with serious health issues tend to recover better in the presence of pets, but you might not have known that owning a pet may also lead to lower blood pressure and cardiovascular disease risk² and can even help ease chronic pain. These unexpected benefits are due to a combination of various pet-related factors. Things like increased physical activity, diminished stress levels, and the release of endorphins that occurs while petting an animal are a winning combination for good health.³

Seeing that your fuzzy loved ones not only offer you unconditional love and affection, but also mental and physical health benefits, shouldn’t you ensure that you are able provide the same for them? Learn how pet insurance can help guarantee you’ll be able to provide healthy benefits in return.

¹https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/the-social-self/201107/friends-benefits-pets-make-us-happier-healthier
²https://www.ahajournals.org/doi/full/10.1161/CIR.0b013e31829201e1
³https://www.health.com/health/gallery/0,,20810305,00.html?slide=78228#78228