The Influence of Pet Owners' Social Support on Subjective Well-being: Focusing on the Mediating Effect of Interaction with Pets

Objectives This study aimed to examine the relationships among social support (as the independent variable), subjective well-being (as the dependent variable), and pet interaction (as the mediating variable) among pet owners. The model was developed to test these relationships and to investigate the mediating effect of pet interaction. Methods To achieve the research objectives, surveys were conducted both online and offline from August to October 2022, resulting in a final sample of 385 responses after data cleaning. Analyses, including missing data handling, frequency analysis, descriptive statistics, and correlation analysis, were performed using SPSS 28.0 and Process Macro 4.3. The mediating effect of pet interaction was examined using Process Macro Model 4 and bootstrapping. Results The study analyzed the mediating effect of pet interaction on the relationship between social support and subjective well-being (measured by life satisfaction, positive affect, and negative affect). The results showed that pet interaction was positively associated with social support (from family, friends, significant others, and pets themselves) and with life satisfaction and positive affect, and negatively associated with negative affect. In the mediation analysis, family, friends, and significant other support had a partial mediating effect on life satisfaction through pet interaction. Although pet support did not have a direct effect, it had a positive impact on subjective well-being through pet interaction. There was no mediating effect on positive affect, but both family and pet support partially mediated the reduction of negative affect through pet interaction. Conclusions This study verified the impact of pet support on subjective well-being and the mediating effect of pet interaction. Findings indicated that pet support is positively correlated with support from family, friends, and significant others, contributing to life satisfaction and positive affect while alleviating negative affect. Notably, the combination of family support and pet interaction maximized the reduction of negative affect. However, close human relationships played a more crucial role in fostering positive affect, and the mediating effect of pet interaction was limited in this regard. Based on these findings, the study suggests developing programs that allow for shared achievements with pets, establishing emotional support systems combining family and pet support, and using pet interaction as emotional support to supplement human social support.