The $100K Reason to Get a Pet
New Study Says Pets Are Worth Plenty
To determine whether pets actually improve happiness, rather than the opposite — happy people are more likely to have pets — the team factored in things like age, income, personality traits, and family size. They also used a clever workaround: They asked people whether they look after their neighbor’s house while they’re away. That behavior is linked to pet ownership but not directly to happiness, which helped researchers isolate the impact of pet ownership. It’s not just a fun fact, either. Experts say findings like this could affect everything from housing laws to public health programs. If pets fight loneliness and lift people’s moods, it might make sense to rethink rules that prevent pet ownership in some apartments and assisted living facilities. While the researchers focused only on cats and dogs, the message came through clearly. Pets matter, maybe even more than we thought. And if you already live with one and know how they benefit your well-being, the science now backs you up. That wagging tail or soft purr might be worth more than you ever guessed.
Most pet owners already know their furry friends make life better, but according to a new study, the value might be higher than anyone realized. Some researchers say it’s close to $100,000. Researchers in the U.K. aimed to measure how much happiness dogs and cats bring to people’s lives. Using data from more than 700 people, they found that owning a pet can boost life satisfaction as much as getting married or landing a massive raise. In economic terms, it’s the emotional equivalent of earning nearly $93,000 more per year.
A big, active social circle with lots of friends is often portrayed as the key to happiness. Recent research paints a more nuanced picture, showing that having fewer, but deeper friendships actually delivers bigger benefits as we age. A recent British study of 335 mature adults aged 65 and over found that just a handful of close friends can foster a sense of social connection and well-being. Specifically, just four close friends are enough to ease loneliness, and ties with three close friends were enough to ease stress. Friends are important at any age, but friendships among seniors are distinguished by some interesting differences. Research shows that older adults place a higher value on emotionally close friends than younger people. Also, seniors’ friendships tend to be deeper and more satisfying and to offer more support in discussing core concerns such as health problems. Surprisingly, deep bonds with close friends are linked more strongly with long-term well-being than ties with children and grandchildren. One possible reason is that family ties can be complicated by caregiving and other obligations. While we are born into our families, we get to choose our friends, for no other reason than that we love being with them. HOW FRIENDSHIPS GROW STRONGER OVER TIME
Can social media help build friendships later in life? Yes, as long as it sustains and fortifies existing ties. Social media is most helpful for older adults when they use it to strengthen and deepen a sense of connection with people they already know, rather than browsing online or posting on community platforms. Social media can support existing relationships by giving older adults a chance to “see” and “be seen” by family and friends, the research shows. The research conveys a reassuring message: For healthy, happy aging, deepening the ties seniors already have can be even more helpful than trying to form new social groups and ties.
MichiganEstatePlans.com • 888.487.6150
2
Made with FlippingBook Ebook Creator