Are pet owners less happy then Americans without pets?

Question

Americans seem to spend more and more on their pets, but does this lead to a decrease in happiness?

Comments

I believe that based on the article, it seems like people who are pet owners are pretty happy with their decisions to own a pet. I think that most people know and understand the financial status of owning a pet and understanding what kind of financial stability goes into owning one. Many studies have shown that owning pets increases happiness and enlightens pet owners. Newsinhealth.org states that "nteracting with animals has been shown to decrease levels of cortisol (a stress-related hormone) and lower blood pressure. Other studies have found that animals can reduce loneliness, increase feelings of social support, and boost your mood." Overall based on both beliefs and studies, pets make the American people happier, even with financial burdens that may come with owning one

https://newsinhealth.nih.gov/2018/02/power-pets#:~:text=Interacting%20with%20animals%20has%20been,support%2C%20and%20boost%20your%20mood.

Answer 1

The article's claim that American pet owners are less happy than Americans without pets is false. The author tries to connect pet ownership to a decrease in happiness, but they instead find an opposite connection. To quote the article itself, "The General Social Survey is a natural place to start. Comparing people who have no pet to those who have any pet, there's no difference in happiness: about 31% of both groups report being very happy, and about 15% report being not too happy. Like wise, there's no difference between pet owners and other poeple in their reported satisfaction with their social and personal relationships or with their financial situation." Studies show that this is true, pet ownership has no reliable association with well-being.

https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/10.1177/01461672231203417

Answer 2

Looking at this article you have attached and it seems to be that Americans with pets live a much happier life than Americans without pets. This website looks trust worthy and the author is very credible when it comes to his other work. The study seems reliable and fairly done. Having a pet doesn't make up for not having a job but it could overall increase your outlook on life.

Comments

Did you check additional sources? It's best to seek sources beyond the one affiliated to the claim.