A Whole New Kind of Party Animal

Pets provide significant relief from college's unique stress factors

By Andrea Epstein Posted 01.12.2009 at 4:25 pm 2 Comments

College Student Pet Owner iStockPhoto

“Stress relievers” that typically come to mind in reference to college life include partying hard, engaging in fraternity shenanigans, and ordering pizza. Add pet ownership to that list. A new study out of Ohio State University found that pets-- not beer-- are help college students to get through difficult times.

Transitioning from home to campus comes with its own set of unique challenges; college students must negotiate entirely new environments, and simultaneously build new networks of friends. Isolation and depression often result. Those students who owned either a cat or dog, or both, reported fewer feelings of isolation, and were, in general, less overwhelmed with the changes that characterize life’s college stage. Those surveyed stated that pet ownership contributed to their overall health. The researchers identified three key benefits of pet ownership for all people: pets provide companionship (thereby staving off loneliness), keep their owners physically active, and provide a measure of stability and simplicity in difficult times.

While extensive studies regarding the positive benefits of pet companionship on the elderly and chronically ill, this study shed new light on the impact of four-legged friends on co-eds.

It’s important to remember that a pet is not a health-maintenance accessory, and requires a lot more care and long-term consideration than, say, a yoga mat. Life changes quickly during the college years, and many people may not be able to commit to the care of an animal for many years to come (if this rings true for you, go for the yoga mat). And, while the benefits of pet ownership are substantial, these relationships can not substitute human social interaction and support. So go ahead and get a dog (if you really can take care of it), but get a dog-sitter, too, and party on.

Via: EurekAlert

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2 Comments

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Oakspar77777

01/13/09 at 9:18 am

I recall my dorm being well stocked with fauna. I had, as many others, the dorm room aquarium. White noise, pets to care for, and most people kill off their fish fast enough for them not to be a long term commitment.

A neighbor had an oscar big enough to eat live mice. We never asked the theater students why they raised little mice. We just prayed that they were to sell to the guy downstairs with the ball python.

While most larger mammals are forbidden by dorms (for obvious reasons), many a "tank-mate" pet serves the same function. Corn snakes, betas, gold fish, and many others are hardy and have low demands. Many only need to be fed once or twice a week, have minimal temperature demands, and can serve to destress.

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RJO

01/13/09 at 6:18 pm

There is a long and distinguished tradition of college cats at many of the finest universities in the world. They are believed to be one of the keys to world peace, also. There are even books about them:

http://collegiateway.org/howto/life/college-cats/