In the absence of human-to-human contact, in millions of households worldwide, animals or pets have provided much-needed comfort via cuddles, pats, and a constant physical presence, researchers say.
The study, published in the Journal of Behavioural Economics for Policy (JBEP) outlined how pets have a crucial role to play in an era where human to human contact can be life endangering. According to the researchers, physical touch is a sense that has been taken for granted - even overlooked - until COVID-19 visited our door earlier this year.
"To fill the void of loneliness and provide a buffer against stress, there has been a global upsurge in people adopting dogs and cats from animal shelters during lockdowns," said study author Janette Young from the University of South Australia.
"Breeders have also been inundated, with demands for puppies quadrupling some waiting lists," Young added. It is estimated that more than half the global population share their lives with one or more pets. The health benefits have been widely reported, but little data exists regarding the specific benefits that pets bring to humans in terms of touch.
"Pets seem to be particularly important when people are socially isolated or excluded, providing comfort, companionship, and a sense of self-worth," Young said. Touch is an understudied sense, but existing evidence indicates it is crucial for growth, development, and health, as well as reducing the levels of the stress hormone cortisol in the body.
It is also thought that touch may be particularly important for older people as other senses decline. In interviews with 32 people, more than 90 percent said touching their pets both comforted and relaxed them - and the pets seemed to need it as well.
"In the era of COVID-19, social distancing, sudden lockdowns, and societal upheaval, our pets may be the only living beings that many people are able to touch and draw comfort from," the authors wrote.
(Inputs from IANS)
