May is both National Pet Awareness month and Mental Health Awareness month, and the College of Social Work would like to take this time to recognize one of its faculty members whose expertise lies in the human-animal bond and animal-assisted therapy research.
Dr. Joe Guada never thought he would study the relationship between people and their pets. His original area of research was studying people with serious behavioral health problems and the formal and informal systems they interacted with. Over time, he came to understand that one of those “informal systems” was their relationships with their pets.
“Having a pet is associated with numerous positive health and psychological benefits for the general population,” says Guada, “including enhanced well-being, improved cardiovascular health and reduced feelings of loneliness.”
As Guada describes, positive human-animal interactions (HAI) correspond to better outcomes in cardiovascular health, dementia care and behavioral health. These benefits extend to the populations frequently served by social workers, such as individuals with low incomes, those experiencing housing insecurity and people living with serious behavioral health conditions.
Evidence suggests that pet ownership can reduce feelings of isolation and provide a sense of purpose, particularly for homeless individuals and those with serious mental illness or substance use disorders, just as it does for the broader population.
According to Guada, low-income adults and their pets often face significant health disparities, including untreated medical conditions like diabetes and hypertension in humans, as well as a lack of vaccinations and spaying/neutering for animals. Research demonstrates that HAI can positively influence health, psychosocial well-being and behavioral health outcomes.
“Social workers work in settings that might surprise the public, such as veterinary clinics, animal shelters and rural communities where they might implement animal-assisted interventions,” says Guada. “These interventions might include equine therapy or incorporating dogs and cats into clinical sessions with children. Or they might support people who have just lost a pet or support individuals dealing with various psychosocial challenges who also have meaningful relationships with their pets. Assisting pet owners in meeting their basic needs often translates into better care for their animals—and vice versa.”
