The debate between dog and cat owners continues strong to this day. Who’s happier? Check out what researchers say about the differences in well-being between dog and cat owners!
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A recent study published in the scientific journal Frontiers in Psychology found that dog owners tend to have higher self-esteem than those without pets.
Cat owners, on the other hand, appear to have slightly lower self-esteem compared to their petless counterparts.
These findings are consistent with other psychological research on pet ownership and well-being.
According to researchers, there are good reasons to believe that having a dog provides an extra layer of well-being protection, such as:
1. Physical Activity and Social Interaction
A study published in PLOS ONE found that dog ownership is more strongly associated with increased physical activity compared to cat ownership.
Because dogs require more walks, this means that dog owners are more likely to stay active, which is a well-known boost to mental health and overall well-being.
Cats, on the other hand, are independent creatures that prefer the confines of their owners’ homes. They may venture out on their own, but it’s not the same as taking a dog to the park.
2. Personality Differences
Another study found that dog and cat owners differ in terms of the “Big Five” personality traits: neuroticism, extraversion, agreeableness, conscientiousness, and openness.
The research authors discovered that dog owners were more agreeable and less neurotic than cat owners. Dog owners were also considered more extroverted, which is another indicator of well-being.
3. Gender and Self-Esteem Differences
A careful analysis of a data set revealed that men who own dogs report higher self-esteem than men without pets. Conversely, cat owners report lower self-esteem than women without pets.
