Cardiovascular reactivity and the presence of pets, friends, and spouses: the truth about cats and dogs.
OBJECTIVE
The purpose of this study was to examine the effects of the presence of friends, spouses, and pets on cardiovascular reactivity to psychological and physical stress.


METHODS
Cardiovascular reactivity was examined among 240 married couples, half of whom owned a pet. Mental arithmetic and cold pressor were performed in one of four randomly assigned social support conditions: alone, with pet or friend (friend present for non-pet owners), with spouse, with spouse and pet/friend.


RESULTS
Relative to people without pets, people with pets had significantly lower heart rate and blood pressure levels during a resting baseline, significantly smaller increases (ie, reactivity) from baseline levels during the mental arithmetic and cold pressor, and faster recovery. Among pet owners, the lowest reactivity and quickest recovery was observed in the pet-present conditions.


CONCLUSIONS
People perceive pets as important, supportive parts of their lives, and significant cardiovascular and behavioral benefits are associated with those perceptions.
Allen
Karen
K
Department of Oral Diagnostic Scinces, School of Dental Medicine, State University of New York at Buffalo, Buffalo, NY 14214, USA. kmallen@acsu.buffalo.edu
Blascovich
Jim
J
Mendes
Wendy B
WB
D000328:Adult; D000806:Angiotensin-Converting Enzyme Inhibitors / Q000627:therapeutic use; D000818:Animals; D000829:Animals, Domestic; D001794:Blood Pressure / Q000502:physiology*; D015992:Body Mass Index; D002415:Cats; D003071:Cognition / Q000502:physiology; D004285:Dogs; D005260:Female; D006339:Heart Rate / Q000502:physiology*; D006801:Humans; D006973:Hypertension / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000523:psychology; D007398:Interpersonal Relations; D008297:Male; D008393:Marriage / Q000523:psychology*; D011897:Random Allocation; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D012944:Social Support; D013315:Stress, Psychological / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000523:psychology*; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires
D000806:Angiotensin-Converting Enzyme Inhibitors