A Study on Mental Health Status and Personality Traits of Pet Owners

Abstract

Introduction & Objective: Many Iranian families manage to keep pets at home. Examining psychological consequences and personality traits of pet owners is important. The aim of this study was to examine mental health status and personality traits of pet owners. Materials & Methods: In this descriptive study, 612 pet owners (143 cat owners, 162 dog owners, 155 bird owners and 152 other pet owners) were asked to complete General Health Questionnaire (GHQ) and IPIP Personality Scale from January to December 2006. Results: Bird owners had the highest (234 cases (38.3%)) and other pet owners had the lowest (129 cases (42.3%)) mental health problems. In general, 188 cases (30.7%) of all groups had mental health problems. 122 cases (20%) of them had somatic compliance, 182 cases (29.7%) had anxiety, 149 cases (24.3%) had social dysfunction and 84 cases (13.7%) had depression. Bird owners had significant high level of social dysfunction than other pet owners. With respect to personality traits, dog owners had low level of agreeableness and openness to experience than other groups. Other pet owners had high level of emotional stability than other groups. Conclusion: Contrary to other countries, it seems that having a pet in home enhances the probability of mental disorders in Iran. It is possible that lower mental health persons were keeping pets in Iran. In personality perspectives, dog owners are more disagreeable people and other pet owners are more emotionally stable ones.