As any dog owner will tell you, their pet is part of the family. And according to a new study, many people prefer their furry companions over most of their friends and family.
Recent research published in Scientific Reports reveals that pet owners experience “greater satisfaction with their dogs than with any human partner except their child.” According to the report, many people experience fewer negative interactions with their dogs than with their closest human companions.
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The study examined the dog-owner bond across 13 relationship scales and compared these scales to the relationships participants have with their closest kin, romantic partners, best friends, and children. The researchers used the Network of Relationships Inventory, which analyzes relationships with parents, friends, and romantic partners in terms of caregiving, attachment, and affiliative behavior systems.
This allowed researchers to understand the role dogs have in our lives and explore the forms of emotional and social support they provide. The study’s participants were self-selected, predominantly female, and young to middle-aged, which researchers acknowledged might have skewed results since women tend to show greater empathy and stronger attachment to dogs, and are more likely to view them as family members or children compared to men.
Overall, researchers found that owners rated their dog higher for companionship and nurturance than their close kin, best friend, and romantic partner. Owners also rated their dog higher for affection, reassurance of worth, and reliable alliance. So referring to your dog as your fur baby or best friend isn’t just cute, it’s science.
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