Eirini Stamataki and Panagiota Tragantzopoulou 2025. ‘he’s not just a dog… he’s something bigger… my family.’ A Qualitative Study on Dog Ownership and Emotional Well-Being. Healthcare. 13 (21) 2666. https://doi.org/10.3390/healthcare13212666
| Title | ‘he’s not just a dog… he’s something bigger… my family.’ A Qualitative Study on Dog Ownership and Emotional Well-Being |
|---|---|
| Type | Journal article |
| Authors | Eirini Stamataki and Panagiota Tragantzopoulou |
| Abstract | Background/Objectives: Dogs are widely regarded as reliable sources of companionship and emotional support. In many instances, they are not merely considered pets, but valued as integral members of the family who significantly influence their caregivers’ emotional and psychological health. Within this framework, this research examines how dog ownership through adoption may serve as both a protective and empowering factor against feelings of loneliness, while also fostering emotional resilience and a renewed sense of purpose in everyday life. Methods: Employing a qualitative research design, this study involved ten Greek participants, five women and five men, aged between 26 and 72, all of whom were the primary caregivers of their dogs. Data were collected through semi-structured interviews aimed at eliciting rich, in-depth personal narratives. Thematic analysis was used to identify recurring emotional patterns and explore the meanings embedded in participants’ accounts. Results: The findings revealed that the human–dog bond functions as a stable emotional anchor, promoting non-judgmental connection and emotional security. Participants reported experiencing greater emotional expression, enhanced social engagement, and improved psychological balance. Conclusions: Overall, the results demonstrate how dog ownership through adoption may act as a protective factor against loneliness while fostering resilience and emotional balance, pointing to the broader mental health benefits of nurturing human–animal bonds. |
| Article number | 2666 |
| Journal | Healthcare |
| Journal citation | 13 (21) |
| ISSN | 2227-9032 |
| Year | 2025 |
| Publisher | MDPI |
| Publisher's version | License CC BY 4.0 File Access Level Open (open metadata and files) |
| Digital Object Identifier (DOI) | https://doi.org/10.3390/healthcare13212666 |
| Web address (URL) | https://doi.org/10.3390/healthcare13212666 |
| Publication dates | |
| Published | 22 Oct 2025 |