When it comes to distressing, people are choosing pets over partners. A new study, conducted by Mars and Calm, found that 58% of pet owners prefer chilling with their pets in times of stress.
The global survey featured over 30,000 pet owners across 20 markets. Of those surveyed, 32% turned to their partners to help with stress. Nearly a quarter (23%) chose family members, and 18% chose their children, friends or both.
Pets can help relieve stress in different ways. While 23% of pet owners prefer talking to their pets, 56% said their pets give comfort from just being around.
A whopping 84% of pet owners feel less stressed around their pets. Pet owners credited their furry friends with reminding them to take breaks and to stop overthinking. And helping them get outdoors. Yes, even walking your dog can be a stress reducer.
The survey also found that 82% of pet owners believe their pets have “positively impacted their well-being.”
“While we love our pets, we often don’t realize how much they give back,” Dr. Tammie King, a specialist in human-animal interaction and Senior Research Manager at the Waltham Petcare Science Institute noted in the study.
“Reframing your pet’s daily ‘interruptions’ as loving reminders to pause, breathe and be present can be a powerful wellness tool. Research shows that touch-based pet interactions can boost oxytocin levels in humans. The findings of this survey will help more people reflect on and acknowledge the little wellbeing moments pets nudge us towards on a daily basis.”
More than 160 million households in the U.S. own at least one pet, according to a 2024 report from the American Veterinary Medical Association. Nearly 60 million households own dogs and 42.2 million own cats. Other popular pets include fish, reptiles, birds, hamsters, gerbils, rabbits, horses and chickens.
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