Pet ownership and human-animal interactions: potential benefits and challenges for humans and pets

There is a long-standing companionship between humans and other animals, most commonly dogs and cats. Potential benefits and challenges of the human-animal bond and interactions have been increasingly researched in the last few decades, but the findings are mixed. This thesis aimed to use a combination of methods to examine not only how and in what conditions pets (companion animals) might benefit humans, but also how humans might provide better lives for their pets. Study 1 investigated the relationship between pet ownership/pet attachment and well-being and the moderating roles of individual differences (e.g., resilience) during the COVID-19 pandemic. The findings suggested that pet ownership and some types of pet attachment can be protective factors for people with low resilience, while other types of pet attachment have complex relationships with resilience and well-being. Study 2 examined the immediate and subsequent effects of pet presence and interactions with pets on facial emotional display and mood while participants interacted with their romantic partner or friend. Pet attachment and attitudes toward pets and their implications for relationship satisfaction and well-being were explored. The findings revealed potential positive effects of pet presence and human-pet interactions on facial emotional display and mood during interactions between romantic couples and friends. Study 3 investigated the relationship between pet ownership and sensitivity to dog and cat distress vocalizations and the mediating roles of empathy toward animals and toward humans. The links between pet owners’ sensitivity to the distress vocalizations, empathy toward animals, and pet attachment and the care they provided to their pets were explored. The results showed that empathy toward animals could explain why pet owners have higher sensitivity to dog distress vocalizations, and it could also be an important factor for the care received by both dogs and cats. The findings in this thesis make a significant contribution to literature by filling important gaps in knowledge and highlight future directions in human-animal bond research. Interdisciplinary efforts among scientists, policymakers, and pet owners have the potential to shape and foster healthier relationships between humans and companion animals in the decades to come.