The current work investigated how viewing one's pet as a family member improves
wellbeing. We hypothesized that including pets in a key social ingroup (ie, family) would …

Humans are an intensely social species with a pervasive need for affiliation and social
interaction. However, satisfying this fundamental motive comes with risk, including increased …

Global advocates have argued in favor of increasing connectedness to nature, the benefits
of which have been substantially supported for both the environment and humans. However …

The social distancing required during Covid-19 times tended to make people feel lonelier
than usual. Those with pets might, however, have experienced this less, because pets are …

Many American pet owners struggle financially, and the COVID-19 pandemic has only
exacerbated this problem. Yet, the positive effects that companion animals have in people's …

Dog owners often ascribe human qualities to their dogs and, as such, view them as close
others and a source of need support that fosters psychological well-being—this is called the …

Abstract Animal-Assisted Interventions have evolved in the past 50 years from a
misunderstood field to a more respected form of complementary therapy. Although the field …

Human-caused environmental problems, such as climate change, affect the lives of both
human and nonhuman animals, underscoring the importance of increasing pro …

Lonely people are often considered more likely to anthropomorphize social robots than the
non-lonely; however, increasing evidence challenges this inference. By distinguishing …

Simple Summary People with aging or ill family members often fill the role of caretaker.
Companion dogs are often viewed as family members and because they age more rapidly …