By Professor David Clark-Carter
It’s a formula that works and there’s robust science to support
the idea that caring for a pet is good for our mental health.
At nearby Staffordshire University, Emeritus Professor of
Psychology, David Clark-Carter, agrees that caring for animals
and pets can both remedy some of the factors that contribute
to poor well-being.
Speaking to Hopezine, he writes:
“Loneliness, isolation, the behaviour of others on social media,
a feeling of lack of worth and of purpose in life, lack of
physical exercise and living in an overly built-up environment
can all impact and create poor mental health. One way to
counteract this is to have the opportunity to look after either
an animal or a pet. This can give a structure to life as there are
specific times when animals need to be tended.
That dependence on you provides a feeling of responsibility for
more than just yourself in a non-threatening and
non-judgemental setting. There are added benefits to mental
well-being of taking physical exercise and having physical
contact. It also helps if you found the activity so absorbing that,
for a while, you did not feel drawn to your mobile phone.
All the benefits mentioned so far could be gained from caring
for an animal or pet where there’s a physical and psychological
boost. With sensitive management, it could also be an
opportunity to make friends, too.”
Cat picture by Louis Wain, courtesy
of Outsider Art specialist Henry Boxer
Gallery www.outsiderart.co.uk
