The Benefit of Emotional Support Animals

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The Benefit of Emotional Support Animals
The concept of emotional support animals has become widespread over the last decade. Emotional support animals are animals that provide comfort and affection to individuals suffering from mental and emotional disorders. They do so by decreasing the level of distress experienced by an individual during the different phases of their coping process (Crossman 12). This concept is based on the premise of the human-animal bond (HAB), which gained prominence after widespread coverage of the effect of animals on human beings by the mainstream media in early 2000 (Fine 4). As a result, scientists became curious to find out whether there is an actual scientific benefit arising from HAB. HAB has been defined as the mutual connection between animals and human, which brings forth health benefits to both. It was first established when human beings started domesticating animals such as dogs and cats to become part of the family (Fine 5). This bond has been explained using the social support theory and the attachment theory (Meehan, Massavelli, and Pachana; Fine 8). According to these theories, the HAB exists because of the ever-present “sense of being needed” and the tendency to form an attachment with a caregiver, respectively.
This HAB has led to the development of the concept of emotional animal support, especially in the field of psychology and human development. According to Purewal, Christley, and Kordas (12), there exists a positive relationship between cognitive outcomes among children and adolescents and pet-ownership. These outcomes include the ability to be self-reliant and make decisions without much consultation. It has also been associated with reduced loneliness, anxiety and depressive symptoms (Purewal, Christley and Kordas 10). This has been attributed to the fact that pet ownership involves the formation of an attachment between the pet and the pet owner and in turn, the pet owner finds companionship and develops the ability to socially interact with the animal (Purewal, Christley and Kordas 15). Pet ownership also provides social support that is necessary for building high self-esteem and reducing loneliness. These are some of the cornerstones of emotional health because people with high self-esteem and low feelings of loneliness are able to form better human connections, thus expanding their social support networks. In addition, the interaction between humans and companion animals have been associated with a reduction in the production of cortisol in human beings, as well as increased production of oxytocin (Fine 11). Cortisol is the hormone responsible for stress and its reduction indicates a reduction in stress levels, while oxytocin is responsible for social bonding.
Despite the associated benefits of emotional support animals listed above, some studies have also indicated that the attachment formed between human beings and...