Feeling “Pawsitively” Good: Human–Pet Touch Predicts Subjective Wellbeing

Abstract

Although it is known that friendly touch with a trusted individual benefits wellbeing, it remains uncertain whether this holds for touch with a pet and concerns both touch giving and receiving. Thus, we studied in an international sample of pet owners (n = 443) how typical forms of friendly owner- (e.g., stroking) and pet-initiated (e.g., nudging) touch predict owner wellbeing and how somatosensory (touch frequency and duration) and non-somatosensory touch aspects (situational context and following affect) might be relevant. We found a number of positive associations for both owner- and pet-initiated touch. Importantly, however, these associations were for specific forms of touch (i.e., owner stroking, pet nudging) rather than touch more generally and were evident for somatosensory and, to a lesser extent, non-somatosensory variables. Together, these data point to the potential benefits of friendly touch with a pet, while emphasizing the importance of physical and contextual variables in leveraging such touch for human health.