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Pet Owners

Childhood pets can help adults deal with stress, study suggests

Research from The National Office of Animal Health (NOAH) reported over 55% of Brits believe that a childhood pet can help build stronger coping mechanisms in stressful situations in adult life.

NOAH revealed that 52% of the 2,000 UK adults surveyed agreed that pets helped elevate their mood in times of distress and upset, whilst one in five pet owners would be most likely to turn to their pets for comfort.

With 38% of people surveyed believe that having a pet can help by “giving them confidence”, as 48% admit they have suffered from at least one mental condition. 

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The survey also revealed that 67% of UK adults believe pet provides companionship and friendship with over half of admitting that pets help those who may feel lonely.

NOAH chief executive, Dawn Howard, said:“Mental health has a huge impact on the quality of our lives. Stress is a part of this: it is a normal part of life, yet at times we may become overwhelmed and our mental health can suffer.

“It’s reassuring to see the importance that pets play in helping us through difficult times. Our new research shines a light on how companion animals can help our wellbeing. There is no denying that pets have a hugely positive impact on people – more than two fifths of the population (45%) even said that pets fill a space in a family that they didn’t know they had.”

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