A recent study conducted in the United Kingdom has found that individuals with pronounced traits of neuroticism and conscientiousness tend to report stronger attachments to their pets. Additionally, females, dog owners, people over 50 years of age, and those caring for children under 18 also tend to report stronger bonds with their pets. The study was published in the Frontiers in Psychiatry.

Pet ownership is a widespread phenomenon in modern society, with estimates suggesting that over 500 million pets reside in homes worldwide. People keep pets for various reasons, including companionship, emotional support, and the joy they bring to daily life.

Pets can provide a sense of purpose and reduce feelings of loneliness, contributing positively to mental health. Additionally, caring for a pet encourages physical activity and fosters social interactions with other pet owners. Pets also offer unconditional love and loyalty, creating strong emotional bonds with their owners.

The emotional bond between pets and their owners can significantly impact the owner’s well-being and overall health. While some studies have found that having a pet is associated with better health outcomes, other studies have not supported this conclusion. Some researchers have proposed that the health effects of pet ownership might depend on the strength of the emotional bond between the owner and the pet, which could be influenced by the owner’s personality.

Study authors Deborah L. Wells and Kathryn R. Treacy wanted to explore whether the strength of the emotional bond with the pet depends on the owner’s personality. They decided to explore the link with both the classic, Big Five personality traits, and with the Dark Triad traits, a set of three personality characteristics associated with manipulative, callous, and socially malevolent behaviors​.

The researchers invited adult dog and cat owners from across the globe to participate in their study. They recruited them via advertisements placed on social media platforms. In this way, they collected valid responses from 938 participants. Of these, 85% were women and 76% were married. 30% came from the U.K. and Ireland and another 47-48% were from Americas and the rest of Europe.

The survey contained assessments of the Big Five personality traits (the Big Five Personality Scale-Short), Dark Triad personality traits (the Short Dark Triad), and of the strength of attachment to the pet (the Lexington Attachment to Pets Scale). It also asked some demographic questions.

The researchers found that individuals with higher levels of neuroticism and conscientiousness reported stronger bonds with their pets. Neuroticism is characterized by emotional instability, anxiety, and moodiness. Conscientiousness involves being diligent, careful, and organized, with a strong sense of responsibility and reliability.

Interestingly, the study also found a weak link between Machiavellianism and stronger attachment to pets. Machiavellianism refers to a manipulative and deceitful personality style, marked by a cynical view of human nature and a focus on personal gain.

In addition to personality traits, demographic factors also influenced attachment levels. Women, dog owners, people over 50, and those caring for children under 18 reported stronger bonds with their pets. This aligns with previous research suggesting that women and dog owners tend to form stronger attachments to their pets, possibly due to higher levels of empathy and the social nature of dogs.

“Overall, this study points to a relationship between strength of attachment to one’s pet and owner personality, at least as assessed using the Big Five approach to personality measurement. There was little to support the idea that the Dark Triad traits were associated with strength of attachment to one’s pet, although the link between these characteristics and attachment styles is still unknown. There are clearly important links between human-animal attachment and mental health outcomes, both for people and their pets,” the study authors concluded.

The study sheds light on the links between emotional bonds with pets and personality. However, it also has limitations that need to be considered. The online recruitment method likely attracted individuals who are strongly attached to their pets, which may not represent the general population. Future studies should aim to include a more diverse and representative sample to validate these findings.

Additionally, the study’s focus on self-reported data may introduce bias, as participants might respond in a socially desirable manner. Future research could incorporate more objective measures of attachment, such as observing interactions between owners and pets or measuring physiological responses.

The paper, “Pet attachment and owner personality,” was authored by Deborah L. Wells and Kathryn R. Treacy.