Pets have the power to soothe

Pets have the power to soothe


If the people in your life are constantly disappointing you, think about getting a dog or cat. It might just give you a mental lift.

Recent findings by researchers at Arcadia University in Pennsylvania and Miami University of Ohio show that some people can benefit from even the most minimal engagement with animals after a social rejection.

Participants in three studies were asked to recall a time when they experienced social rejection and then asked to give a name to a picture of an animal. Their feelings were recorded afterward. Compared with a control group, those who named animals felt less despair and rejection than those who gave names to pictures of people and inanimate objects. Researchers said the results show that briefly thinking about animals can ease the pain of social rejection. The findings were published recently in the journal Anthrozoos.

It’s not the first report to prove that pets really do make us happier. Simply petting your furry friend can lower your blood pressure and induce the release of feel-good hormones. Studies have shown that with pets in the home, Alzheimer’s disease patients experience fewer anxious outbursts, AIDS patients are less likely to become depressed and heart attack victims survive longer.

Pets can also be beneficial for kids. Babies who are exposed to pets before six months of age may be less likely to develop allergies and asthma, according to a study published in the Journal of Allergy and Clinical Immunology.

So when the blues strike, consider reaching out to a furry friend. Whether it’s a cat video or a pet in your lap, animals can soothe many kinds of malaise.

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