94. Connect with animals: The power of pets to build connection
Data point of the week
In a meta-analysis of 24 studies, having a pet was found to reduce social isolation, and—at least during the pandemic—to reduce loneliness. For those of you invested in demonstrating the superiority of cats vs. dogs or vice versa, sorry, “the studies did not reveal any differences between dogs, cats, and other kinds of pets regarding their relationship to loneliness and social isolation.”
Having a pet has also been shown to:
Encourage higher levels of physical activity
Decrease symptoms of depression and anxiety
Promote interaction with neighbors
Reduce doctor visits during times of stress
Increase rates of survival after cardiovascular event
Our dog, Iggy, exhausted after de-stuffing his pterodactyl.
Reflection
Since I work from home, our dog Iggy is my primary companion during the day, and our daily dog walk is essential to my health and well-being. The change of scenery, movement, and casual interactions—with neighbors and strangers alike—helps me feel more connected to the world outside of our four walls.
Let’s be honest though, Iggy can increase my stress as well as my well-being, like when I’m delivering a Zoom training from my home office while he’s barking frantically at some noise from the street. That soundtrack has been recorded for all time in this podcast interview I did on social connection and mental health.
Ups and downs included, the bonds we have with animals are strong. They don’t replace human connection, but they do provide valuable companionship and much-needed physical affection in our touch-deprived world.
Animals help facilitate social connection in other ways too. Last night we had a few people over to celebrate a friend’s birthday, and Iggy was the star of the party. We bonded over his cuteness, laughed at his antics, and commiserated over managing challenging dog behaviors. Whenever there was a lull in conversation, we looked to Iggy … and he delivered.
When I worked on a college campus, we held dog events, “De-stress with Dogs” and “Canine Office Hours,” and something magical happened. People flocked to the events, and the usual social awkwardness was completely absent. The dogs provided an external focal point—and an adorable and absorbing one at that! This is the superpower of babies, puppies, and kittens. They allow people to come together and connect without the intensity of eye contact or the pressure of having to figure out what to say.
Connection Skill & Action Step: Connect with animals
How can you leverage pets’ cuteness, affection, and companionship to promote connection? Consider organizing a pet event or a bring-your-dog-to-work day. Make sure to think through how to be considerate of people with allergies or fear of dogs, and minimize the potential for noise and disruption.
Questions to reflect on or to spark conversation. Please share your responses in the comments.
Do you have a pet? If so, what impact do you think having a pet has on reducing loneliness and feeling connected?
