Depression, anxiety, and happiness in dog owners and potential dog owners during the COVID-19 pandemic in the United States.

ABSTRACT: Major life events, such as the COVID-19 pandemic, affect psychological and physiological health. Social support, or the lack thereof, can modulate these effects. The context of the COVID-19 pandemic offered a unique opportunity to better understand how dogs may provide social support for their owners and buffer heightened symptoms of stress, anxiety and depression and contribute to happiness during a major global crisis. Participants (768 pet dog owners and 767 potential pet dog owners) answered an online survey, including validated depression, anxiety, happiness psychometric scales, attitude to and commitment towards pet, and perceived social support. Potential pet dog owners were defined as individuals who did not own a dog at the time of the survey but would be very or extremely interes

SUBMITTER: Martin F 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC8673598 | biostudies-literature | 2021

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature