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The Conversation
The Conversation
Brian N. Chin, Assistant Professor of Psychology, Trinity College

Just having a pet doesn’t help mental health – but pet-owners with secure relationships with their pets are less depressed

How emotionally close you are to your pet is not necessarily a good measure of how your relationship affects your well-being. Nattalia Nuñez/Unsplash, CC BY-ND

For many people, pets provide unconditional love, companionship and a sense of security. But not all human-pet relationships are beneficial, and some may contribute to stress and anxiety rather than relief.

Psychologists have been studying attachment theory for decades. This framework explains how people form emotional bonds, seek closeness and manage separation. People with secure attachment tend to feel safe in relationships, while those with attachment anxiety may crave closeness but frequently worry about rejection or loss.

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