- A new study indicates that interacting more intensely with a pet dog or cat during stressful moments may not alleviate stress and could, in some cases, intensify negative feelings.
- Researchers found that while general interactions with pets are linked to more positive emotions, they do not lower stress at the exact moment it occurs.
- For cat owners, a higher level of interaction was associated with a stronger link between stress and negative emotions, a phenomenon researchers speculate might be due to the more passive nature of cat interactions.
- The study, which analysed almost 8,000 real-time data reports from 188 dog and cat owners, suggests that stress-buffering is not the mechanism causing momentary emotional well-being when interacting with a pet.
- The emotional benefits of pet interaction appear to stem from a sense of companionship and feeling less alone, rather than directly helping people handle stress better at the moment it arises.
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