Overview

• The ELTE Eötvös Loránd University research followed nearly 3,000 Hungarians through three 2020 lockdown surveys to measure well-being after pet acquisition or loss.
• Participants who gained or lost a pet showed no significant long-term changes in overall well-being.
• New dog owners saw a transient rise in cheerfulness that faded after a few months, followed by drops in calmness, life satisfaction and activity.
• Bringing a pet home did not reduce feelings of loneliness and was associated with increased anxiety among new owners.
• Investigators note that sustained benefits may be limited to specific groups, such as devoted animal lovers or isolated older adults.