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COVID companions: Exploring pets as social support
1Marketing Department, University of Liverpool Management School, Liverpool, UK.
Sociology of Health & Illness
|July 29, 2024
Summary
Companion animals provided crucial social support during the COVID-19 pandemic. Pets buffered stress, maintained routines, and enhanced emotional and social connections for owners.
Area of Science:
- Human-Animal Interaction
- Psychology
- Sociology
Background:
- The COVID-19 pandemic presented unprecedented psychological challenges.
- Social support is vital for mental well-being during crises.
- The role of domestic animals in providing social support requires further investigation.
Purpose of the Study:
- To explore the social support functions of domestic animals for pet owners during the COVID-19 pandemic.
- To identify specific ways pets contributed to owners' well-being amidst pandemic-related stressors.
Main Methods:
- Qualitative study involving semi-structured interviews with 39 pet owners in the UK and US in March 2021.
- Thematic network analysis was employed to analyze interview data.
Main Results:
- Pets acted as buffers against pandemic-related stress.
- Companion animals facilitated ontological security through routine and purpose.
- Domestic animals provided significant emotional support.
- Pets enhanced and enabled broader social support networks for owners.
Conclusions:
- Domestic animals play a multifaceted role in providing social support to humans.
- Findings underscore the importance of companion animals for mental health resilience during public health crises.
- This research extends understanding of human-animal bonds in challenging times.
