Psychology Around the Net]
Former Surgeon General Vivek Murthy posted this picture on Instagram of one of his three cats on National Pet Day in April 2017.
Courtesy of the office of Dr. Vivek Murthy
Owning a pet increases human interaction and combats the increasing health concerns around loneliness, prompting some researchers Tuesday to suggest the government should do more to encourage it.
Researchers released new data Tuesday that show about 40% of people support a government push to increase interaction with pets. The research was presented at the first Summit on Social Isolation and Companion Animals by Mars Petcare and the Human Animal Bond Research Institute. Mars Petcare even gives consumers tips on how to convince government officials to make their cities more pet friendly.
Loneliness is as dangerous to health as smoking 15 cigarettes a day, according to one researcher. That makes it a health concern on par with obesity.
Nancy Gee, human-animal interaction research manager at Mars' Waltham Centre for Pet Nutrition, says showing other people pictures of your pet and even talking to that cat or dog are both typical and healthy behaviors.
"When we think about loneliness, we need attachment figures and pets meet that need," says Gee. "You don’t have to worry about confidentiality or judgement. It just is what it is."
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