Knowledge Influence of pets on people's well-being overestimated
The positive influence of pets on people's well-being is overestimated, according to a study. Families are even unhappier with animals, according to a study published on Thursday.
19.12.2024, 08:40
SDA
For single men, on the other hand, dogs contribute to happiness, according to the study for the Happiness Atlas in Munich based on data from the socio-economic panel. Overall, pet owners scored 7.34 points on a happiness scale of zero to ten and people without pets scored 7.38 points.
Families with pets are particularly unhappy, scoring 7.40 points, compared to 7.65 points for families without pets. In general, the larger the animals, the less satisfied the owners are. Dogs, cats and horses scored poorly, which is due to the large amount of time and money spent on the animals. These families are particularly dissatisfied with household chores. The situation is different for small animals such as guinea pigs and rabbits, as they are less of a burden.
Single people happier with animals
Single men and women with animals are also generally unhappier. Single men with dogs are an exception, scoring 7.71 points, which is clearly higher than single men without pets at 7.23 points. They feel less isolated and have more social contacts. Single women with cats are the least satisfied with a score of 6.85 points. They are generally too worried and anxious.
According to the study led by economist Bernd Raffelhüschen from the University of Freiburg, satisfaction with and without pets remains mostly unchanged in couples. An exception is the phase of starting a family, in which a dog significantly increases the satisfaction of a young couple. Here, satisfaction rises from 7.50 to 7.77 points. Happiness is then only surpassed when the first child arrives.
