Overview

• Researchers analyzed three waves of 2020 COVID-19 lockdown surveys involving nearly 3,000 Hungarians, including 65 new pet acquisitions and 75 losses.
• Pet adoption produced a temporary boost in cheerfulness lasting up to four months but failed to improve long-term life satisfaction.
• Over time, recent dog owners reported declines in calmness, activity levels, cheerfulness and overall life satisfaction compared with pre-adoption baselines.
• Losing a pet during lockdown had no measurable impact on former owners’ mental health and new pets did not alleviate loneliness, with some owners experiencing heightened anxiety.
• The study suggests that only select groups, such as dedicated animal lovers or older adults living alone, may derive meaningful mental health gains from pet ownership during stressful periods.