Paws and Protocols: The Dual Effects of pet Species on Preventive Health Behaviors During COVID-19

Previous research has demonstrated that exposure to dogs (or cats) can evoke stereotypical temperaments and behaviors associated with these pet species, thereby activating a promotion-focused or prevention-focused motivational mindset. Although the effects of pet exposure on consumer judgments and behaviors have been established, the health consequences of these effects remain unclear. Evidence indicates that promotion-focused individuals tend to be more risk-seeking, while prevention-focused individuals are more concerned with safety. Based on these findings, we predicted that individuals exposed to dogs would be less likely to comply with health measures during a pandemic compared to those exposed to cats, due to their differing regulatory focuses. In Study 1, we found that dog owners self-reported less adherence to virus-containment behaviors than cat owners. Moving beyond correlational evidence and self-report measures, Study 2 revealed that individuals who recalled experiences of interacting with dogs exhibited less actual virus-mitigation behavior compared to those who recalled experiences with cats. Using a different priming procedure involving the viewing of pet pictures, Study 3 replicated the findings of Study 2. Furthermore, the results indicated that regulatory focus mediated this effect. Together, these findings suggest that pet exposure influences individuals' health behaviors during the COVID-19 pandemic through regulatory fit.