Life Satisfaction, Self-Esteem, Psychological Well-Being of Pet Owners and Non-Pet Owners: A Comparative Study

With the COVID-19 pandemic, all families stayed in quarantine all across the globe. With having to quarantine for longer days, the mental health of many deteriorated with the loss of loved ones. It was seen as a compensation of social interactions, there was a rise in rate of adoptions of pets pan-India. The objective of the present study was to compare the life satisfaction, self-esteem, psychological well-being of pet owners and non-pet owners residing in India. The survey included a demographic and pet questionnaire, and three self-report measures. Qualitative responses on how does a pet have an impact on the owner were also reported, to study themes of subjective well-being. The study comprised of 226 Indian participants of which 113 were pet owners and 113 were non-pet owners. Independent samples t-test was used to analyse data and report results for research questions. Findings in the study do not show a significant difference in the life satisfaction, self-esteem and psychological well-being of pet owners and non-pet owners. However, qualitative themes suggested that pets acted as stress busters and a distraction, and had an indirect influence in physical health. Pets helped their owners maintain a routine in the lockdown. Viewing pets as family members helped the family environment. The current study contributes to bridging a gap in Indian literature in relation to pet ownership, and its complex nature and influence on human well-being. To build a more empirical base, there is still a need for further investigation of pet ownership and psychological variables within an Indian population to gain a better understanding.