The DOI matches its Crossref record; 73 of the 76 references it cites were found in a registry or an index.
Friends with benefits: On the positive consequences of pet ownership.
Abstract
Social support is critical for psychological and physical well-being, reflecting the centrality of belongingness in our lives. Human interactions often provide people with considerable social support, but can pets also fulfill one's social needs? Although there is correlational evidence that pets may help individuals facing significant life stressors, little is known about the well-being benefits of pets for everyday people. Study 1 found in a community sample that pet owners fared better on several well-being (e.g., greater self-esteem, more exercise) and individual-difference (e.g., greater conscientiousness, less fearful attachment) measures. Study 2 assessed a different community sample and found that owners enjoyed better well-being when their pets fulfilled social needs better, and the support that pets provided complemented rather than competed with human sources. Finally, Study 3 brought pet owners into the laboratory and experimentally demonstrated the ability of pets to stave off negativity caused by social rejection. In summary, pets can serve as important sources of social support, providing many positive psychological and physical benefits for their owners.
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“As noted by Bowen [78] and others [43,44,54,79,80,81], pets are often an integral part of the family structure.”
From Disenfranchised Guilt-Pet Owners' Burden. (2022) · cites this paper as [54]
In the citing paper
“A large body of scientific literature has considered the physical and psychological benefits that both humans and animals may obtain by living together in a reciprocated interaction (e.g., humans: 21, [70,71,72,73,74]; see [75,76] for critical analyses; animals: [77,78,79]).”
From The Complexity of the Human–Animal Bond: Empathy, Attachment and Anthropomorphism in Human–Animal Relationships and Animal Hoarding (2022) · cites this paper as [71]
In the citing paper
“People who feel lonely or chronically lack social connection with other humans may try to compensate by creating a sense of human connection with nonhuman agents, anthropomorphizing them”
From The Complexity of the Human–Animal Bond: Empathy, Attachment and Anthropomorphism in Human–Animal Relationships and Animal Hoarding (2022) · cites this paper as [71]
In the citing paper
“The central role of animals in fostering and maintaining an individual’s self-esteem and sense of identity has also been documented in studies on normal human–animal relationships and are one of the psychologically positive effects of the human–animal bond [71,301,302].”
From The Complexity of the Human–Animal Bond: Empathy, Attachment and Anthropomorphism in Human–Animal Relationships and Animal Hoarding (2022) · cites this paper as [71]
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Loneliness and the Big Five Personality Traits: A Meta–Analysis
Buecker, S., Maes, M., Denissen, J. J. A., & Luhmann, M. (2020) · European Journal of Personality · doi:10.1002/per.2229 · Cited by 452
Toward a psychology of human–animal relations.
Amiot, C. E., & Bastian, B. (2015) · Psychological Bulletin · doi:10.1037/a0038147 · Cited by 328
Saving Mr. Nature: Anthropomorphism enhances connectedness to and protectiveness toward nature
Tam, K., Lee, S.-L., & Chao, M. M. (2013) · Journal of Experimental Social Psychology · doi:10.1016/j.jesp.2013.02.001 · Cited by 394
Transmission and Epidemiology of Zoonotic Protozoal Diseases of Companion Animals
Esch, K. J., & Petersen, C. A. (2013) · Clinical Microbiology Reviews · doi:10.1128/cmr.00067-12 · Cited by 322
Pets as safe havens and secure bases: The moderating role of pet attachment orientations
Zilcha-Mano, S., Mikulincer, M., & Shaver, P. R. (2012) · Journal of Research in Personality · doi:10.1016/j.jrp.2012.06.005 · Cited by 201
Metadata
- Authors
- McConnell, A. R., Brown, C. M., Shoda, T. M., Stayton, L. E., & Martin, C. E.
- Affiliations
- Miami University (US)
- Saint Louis University (US)
- Venue
- Journal of Personality and Social Psychology
- Published
- 2011
- Volume
- 101
- Issue
- 6
- Pages
- 1239-1252
- ISSN
- 0022-3514 (ISSN-L)
- 1939-1315
- OpenAlex
- W2139320294
- Cited by
- 704
- References
- 76
- Citations by year
- 2026: 60 · 2025: 59 · 2024: 75 · 2023: 64 · 2022: 57 · 2021: 69 · 2020: 52 · 2019: 53 · 2018: 51 · 2017: 40 · 2016: 35 · 2015: 26 · 2014: 26 · 2013: 26 · 2012: 11
- FWCI
- 12.57
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- closed
- Locations
- Journal of Personality and Social Psychology (publishedVersion)
- PubMed (publishedVersion)
- Funders
- Lewis Endowed Professorship
- Dean’s Scholars Awards
- Topics
- Life Sciences › Agricultural and Biological Sciences › Animal Science and Zoology › Human-Animal Interaction Studies
- Social Sciences › Psychology › Social Psychology › Attachment and Relationship Dynamics
- Life Sciences › Agricultural and Biological Sciences › Animal Science and Zoology › Animal Behavior and Welfare Studies
- Keywords
- pet ownership, social support, well-being, social needs, self-esteem, physical activity, conscientiousness, fearful attachment, social rejection, human-animal relations, sense of belonging
- MeSH terms
- Adaptation, Psychological, Adult, Animals, Human-Animal Bond, Cats, Conscience, Dogs, Female, Happiness, Humans, Loneliness, Male, Mental Health, Personal Satisfaction, Surveys and Questionnaires, Self Concept, Social Support, Exercise, Young Adult, Pets
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