Animal Video Lovers Always Have Company: The Role of Cyber-Mediated Animal Attachment in Loneliness

Growing engagement with online animal videos has raised questions about their potential psychological benefits. While prior research links pet attachment to reduced loneliness, little is known about whether similar effects arise from online animal interactions. This study introduces the concept of cyber-mediated animal attachment-emotional bonds formed with animals in digital media-and investigates its role in mediating the relationship between video engagement and loneliness. The model's incremental validity was further assessed beyond the explanatory power of personality traits and emotional states. Two sub-studies were conducted, comprising a questionnaire survey and an experimental study. The findings revealed that (1) engagement with online animal videos was significantly negatively associated with levels of loneliness, and this relationship was linear rather than nonlinear; (2) cyber-mediated animal attachment mediated the relationship between video engagement and loneliness; and (3) compared to humorous human videos that elicit similar positive emotions, animal videos were more likely to evoke attachment toward the video character, which in turn contributed to reduced loneliness. These results provide empirical support for the role of online animal videos in alleviating loneliness, help clarify the psychological mechanisms of virtual attachment, and offer new perspectives and intervention strategies for addressing loneliness through digital means.