Effects of Pets on Mental Health
What is a cause and effect argument?
Cause and effect arguments attempt to find causes (why don't more Americans vote) or identify possible effects (does violence cause societal violence). A cause and effect argument identifies the causes of an event or situation and takes a stand on what actually caused it. In an essay on one of the following topics, for example, you would search for the causes of an event or a situation, examining a number of different possible causes before concluding that a particular cause was the most likely one. You could also consider the possible outcomes or results of a given event or situation and conclude that one possible effect would most likely occur:
Are designated bicycle lanes really safer for cyclists?
Is fast food making Americans fat?
Is human activity responsible for climate change?
Do mandatory minimum sentences discourage crime?
Do charter schools improve students' academic performance?
Does our reliance on social media bring us together or drive us apart?
For this essay, you will research a topic of your choice where you find a cause and identify possible effects of that cause. A cause and effect essay examines the causes of an event or topic (reasons why it happened), and the effects (what happened as a result). Below is a link of possible topics to help give you an idea of cause/effect topics. This research essay should be 1500-2000 words in length. You will need at least 6 sources or more to support your argument.
Sample Topics:
Child Obesity is a Result of Unhealthy Lunches at School
Heart Disease is Caused by Limited Exercise on the Body
The Lack of Jobs in Rural Cities Increases Poverty
Strict Rules for Texting and Driving Leads to Less Fatalities
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Pet Ownership and Mental Health
From a logical standpoint, pet ownership does not make evolutionary sense given the high cost of maintaining a pet and other associated downsides such as potential personal injury or disease from owning a pet. Notably, pet ownership has been identified as one of the second most common causes of conflict among neighbors after late-night noises. However, pet ownership is one of the most common phenomena in the United States, with most households composed of a pet that is considered a member of the family. Researchers have conducted studies to examine why people keep pets despite the presence of logical reasons why one should not keep pets. One of the reasons cited for pet ownership is the view that pet ownership plays a role in influencing the mental health of the pet owner. Notwithstanding the potential downside to owning a pet, pet ownership, has a positive effect on the mental health of the owners.
A major effect of pet ownership is decreased levels of stress levels. Several studies have shown that petting or playing with an animal at home lowers the production of cortisol hormone while increasing the production of dopamine and serotonin. Dopamine and serotonin are two main hormones that are associated with a feeling of calm and relaxation in a person. When facing a stressful situation, a person accompanied by a pet is likely to record lower blood pressure levels compared to an individual who faces such situations on their own (Vitality 1). Mental health professionals have recognized the ability of pet ownership to lower stress in a patient. Consequently, patients with disorders such as post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) or borderline hypertension are encouraged to keep pets so that they can enjoy the calming and relaxation effects of pet ownership. To this end, some studies have shown that PTSD patients who took up pet ownership reported a decreased reduction in symptoms. As such, pet ownership has a positive effect on mental health as pets lower stress levels.
Another major positive effect of pet ownership on mental health is an increase in physical activity. Cull reports that having a pet requires the owner to exercise daily regardless of the weather (1). Pets such as dogs require daily walks so that they can calm down. In a study examining the relationship between pet ownership and physical exercise, Tan et al. found that pet owners had 31.8 more minutes of physical activity when compared to the number of minutes reported by non-pet owners in the study (1). The findings were more pronounced in the pet owners who were aged 30 to 64 years and owned a dog as a pet (Tan et al. 1). Health Navigator notes that pet ownership is associated with being in the outdoors and in nature, which is considered to be vital to mental health (1). Pet owner has to constantly interact with nature when walking their dogs, cleaning cages, or even collecting eggs from the chicken. As such, pet ownership has positive effects on mental health through physical exercises.
Further, pet ownership has been observed to have positive mental health effects given that pets provide a constant level of companionship for the owner. Health Navigator report that the physical contact that pet provides for their owners can reduce the loneliness and isolation that people experience (1). To this end, the pet provides an animate companion with whom one can talk when the need arises- although the pet does not talk back. The sense of companionship provided by pet ownership is also cultivated through taking care of the pet. That is a pet owner experience a sense of being loved and needed when feeding or cleaning the pet in a way that may translate to a feeling of purpose and security. Cull notes that pets provide their owners with an unconditional companion who is eager for their company (1). In such a way, pet ownership has a positive effect on mental health as pets provide companionship to their owners.
Another positive effect of pet ownership on mental health is the reduction of anxiety. The presence of a pet can ease anxiety in a person in the sense that it fulfills an opportunity for a soothing touch when one is feeling anxious. Observably, pets live in the moment as opposed to ruminating on the past or holding unwarranted worries about the future. Thus, pet reminds their owners to be more mindful and live in the present moment with them resulting in a significant reduction in anxiety levels. Health Navigator reports that studies have reported the anxiety reduction effects of pets on their owners (1). In a study conducted by Grajfoner, Ke, and Wong during the lockdown, the researchers found that pet owners tended to score better in anxiety measures than non-pet owners (2701). Thus, the positive effect of pet ownership on the mental health of their owners should not be underemphasized.
Pets have a positive effect on the mental health of their owners given that they assist the owner to make beneficial connections with like-minded individuals. When one is taking a pet for exercise or replenishing its supplies, there is a high likelihood of meeting like-minded people with whom one can socialize. The presence of a pet when meeting a random stranger eliminates the sense of alienation that strangers may experiences when they first meet. With time, stopping to chat with other pet owners while outdoors with the pet is considered normal exercise. In addition, pet ownership provides an opportunity for one to socialize with others through pet-inspired events, such as puppy training classes. Increasingly, pet owners have crea...