We often joke about how we prefer pets to humans, but a recent study from the University of Cambridge may have proved that it’s true after all. The study found that children actually get more satisfaction from their pets than with their brothers and sisters. It shouldn’t come as a surprise as growing up with siblings can be quite difficult. Constant bickering, fighting and competition can create tension in the household.
The study also found that having a dog, compared to other pets, causes the least amount of conflict in a family. The study, conducted by Waltham Centre for Pet Nutrition in Leicestershire, found that girls reported more companionship with their dogs compared to owners of other pets.
The study sampled 12-year-olds from 77 different families with at least one pet and more than one child. The majority reported having stronger relationships with their pets over their siblings.
Anyone who has loved a childhood pet knows that we turn to them for companionship and disclosure, just like relationships between people,
“Anyone who has loved a childhood pet knows that we turn to them for companionship and disclosure, just like relationships between people,” said Matt Cassells, lead researcher for the study, which was published in the Journal of Applied Developmental Psychology . “We wanted to know how strong these relationships are with pets relative to other close family ties. Ultimately this may enable us to understand how animals contribute to healthy child development.”
Read the full article at: http://people.com/pets/new-study-suggests-the-long-suspected-your-siblings-like-your-pet-more-than-you/
Image source: https://publicphilosophy.ucsc.edu/philosophy-for-children/
source: https://www.talktalk.co.uk/makingtalktalkbetter/broadband-made-faster
