How Pets Teach Us to Be Our Best Selves

The guy who leaves a large dog poop outside of my house every morning notwithstanding, new research published in the Journal of Applied Developmental Science suggests that having a pet may help you become a better person. There has been more than twenty years of science looking at the health benefits of pets including lowering blood pressure and anxiety and preventing allergies in kids, but not much about their impact on character. This recent work found that caring for an animal increased empathy, leadership, and social engagement. "As the field of how human and animal health interact becomes more rigorous," author Megan K. Mueller, who is both a developmental psychologist and a professor at the Tufts School of Veterinary Medicine, tells Yahoo Shine, "people are starting to discover how important pets are in our lives."

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Mueller has worked with Tufts Paws for People, a program that brings therapy animals, including her own black lab, Jett, and a miniature horse, into nursing homes, after school reading classes, hospitals, and other settings where they provide companionship and affection. She recently helped organize a campus event where students were invited to de-stress during final exams with 4 therapy dogs. The organizers expected 30 kids and 200 showed up. "The students told us how much they missed their pets and how much they helped them unwind." Mueller says there has been a lot of research showing the benefits of animals for children in a therapeutic environment, but she wanted to investigate what good stuff happens people and pets in everyday life.

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The study looked at data collected from more than 500 18-26 year-olds and found that those who reported caring for pets were also more likely to help their friends and families and be active in their communities. It also found that teens who said they had a strong attachment to their pets showed more confidence and empathy in general. Mueller stresses that the study reveals a correlation-not a cause, and further investigation needs to be done. "We have to tease out what the processes and mechanisms are, for instance, do people want to have pets because they enjoy taking care of others?" The work also suggested that the social skills developed through being with animals may translate to interacting with people.

Mueller points out that simply having an animal around does not guarantee a psychological or emotional bonus or a boost in empathy. About 68 percent of American families include at least one animal, so the benefits would be widespread. However, in some households, pets are neglected: they are treated as props or left left alone for hours on end. Whether or not a person actively nurtures their animal makes all the difference. According o the article, "[Our] findings suggest that individuals who are highly involved in caring for an animal or participating in an animal-focused activity are also contributing more broadly to their families, communities, and schools, an important aspect of becoming an active and engaged member of the community." Mueller says that if parents are considering getting a family pet, it makes sense to ensure that children participate in their care. "It's not just about the presence of the animals, it's about the quality and nature of that relationship."

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