- A new study indicates that interacting more intensely with a pet dog or cat during stressful moments may not alleviate stress and could, in some cases, intensify negative feelings.
- Researchers found that while general interactions with pets are linked to more positive emotions, they do not lower stress at the exact moment it occurs.
- For cat owners, a higher level of interaction was associated with a stronger link between stress and negative emotions, a phenomenon researchers speculate might be due to the more passive nature of cat interactions.
- The study, which analysed almost 8,000 real-time data reports from 188 dog and cat owners, suggests that stress-buffering is not the mechanism causing momentary emotional well-being when interacting with a pet.
- The emotional benefits of pet interaction appear to stem from a sense of companionship and feeling less alone, rather than directly helping people handle stress better at the moment it arises.
IN FULL
New study challenges view that pets help us deal with stress
