Wellness Wednesday: The benefits of Pet Ownership
“People with dogs are often perceived to be more approachable, happier and more empathetic, research shows. The presence of a dog can also serve as an indication a man is nurturing and capable of caregiving, said Dr. Helen Fisher, a senior research fellow at the Kinsey Institute and a chief adviser to Match.com. And that, she said, is a powerful mating signal.”
Here is the first Wellness Wednesday tip: Can pets be good for romantic relationships? Carleton grad Anika Cloutier (now at Queen’s University) and faculty member Johanna Peetz conducted several studies showing that pet ownership was associated with relationship benefits (greater overall relationship quality, partner responsiveness, adjustment and relational investment) among couples who owned pets together, compared to couples with no pets. They also identified one possible reason for why pets may benefit relationships: Living with a companion animal might provide the opportunity to practice empathic abilities, which is a fundamentally important ability in the maintenance of positive relationships. The longer participants reported having lived with a pet, the higher their ability to take other people’s perspective and to feel empathic concern. Read this article to learn more about the benefits of pets! And for recent news published about this topic, read from The New York Times.
Art Credit: Heidi Younger