A furry friend might not be the answer to a ruff life.
Canine companionship has long been touted as a remedy for people seeking comfort and connection, particularly when pandemic-era lockdowns kept millions apart.
But new research suggests that even in times of extreme social isolation, having a pet doesn’t always improve well-being — and sometimes, it makes it worse.
Researchers at Eötvös Loránd University in Budapest analyzed data from nearly 3,000 Hungarians, collected over several months in 2020.
Among the participants, 65 acquired a pet while 75 lost one, prompting the team to examine how these changes affected their well-being over time.
The results? Not exactly tail-wagging.
Researchers found new pet owners experienced a short-lived boost in cheerfulness after bringing a dog home — but that initial high didn’t last.
Over time, their calmness, life satisfaction, cheerfulness and activity levels dropped.
“What surprised me most was that new pet in the household had no effect on the respondents’ loneliness,” Judit Mokos, a data scientist and one of the paper’s first authors, said in a statement.
“Our research suggests that dogs do not provide a real solution to loneliness; rather, they make the new owners more anxious.”
Even more surprising: losing a pet didn’t affect the well-being of their former owners.
“It appears that, at least during stressful periods, the average person, who may not be the primary caregiver but simply shares a household with the pet, is not significantly affected by the pet’s loss, nor is their well-being a strong predictor of the decision to acquire one,” said Ádám Miklósi, who initiated the data collection on companion animals.
These findings cast doubt on earlier studies suggesting dog ownership offers a wide range of health benefits, including reducing stress and anxiety, building social connections, increasing physical activity and lowering blood pressure and cholesterol.
“Based on the data, most people living together with a companion animal do not seem to experience any long-term ‘pet effect,’ nor do they bond strongly with their animal,” said Eniko Kubinyi, head of the MTA-ELTE “Momentum” Companion Animals Research Group.
“It is possible that the dynamics of the pandemic have led many to make impulsive choices against their long-term interest, or that only certain groups — like devoted animal lovers or older adults living alone — truly benefit from pets in stressful times,” she added.
The loneliness epidemic
Loneliness became a bigger problem during the coronavirus pandemic, but studies suggest half of American adults had already experienced it before the outbreak.
And the social fallout didn’t end when lockdowns did. Research shows that many people, especially teens, young adults and seniors, continued to spend more time at home and less time socializing than before the public health crisis.
In fact, a 2024 study by the American Psychiatric Association found that 30% of adults felt lonely at least once a week last year, with 10% battling loneliness every single day.
That’s a bigger problem than many realize. Studies show chronic loneliness can increase the risk of premature death as much as 15 cigarettes a day.
It’s linked to heart disease, stroke, cognitive decline, inflammation and a weakened immune system. Loneliness is also strongly associated with depression, anxiety, stress and low self-esteem.
In 2023, then-Surgeon General Vivek Murthy declared that “loneliness, isolation, and lack of connection in our country” are an “epidemic” and a “public health crisis.”
At last year’s Aspen Ideas Festival, Murthy shared three simple daily actions to help Americans rebuild their social connections.
First, spend 15 minutes each day reaching out to someone you care about.
“We have built this cultural narrative over the years that success is about being independent and being independent is about not needing anyone,” Murthy said. “That is something we fundamentally have to change.”
Second, when you’re with others, shelve distractions and give your full attention.
“Five minutes of being fully present with someone in conversation is more powerful than 30 minutes of distracted conversation,” he explained.
Finally, make daily acts of service a priority.
“Service is a very powerful antidote to loneliness, because it not only helps us connect — whether it’s in the act of helping one person or helping a community — but it reminds us that we have value to bring to the world,” Murthy said.
