When pets help—and when they don’t: A pilot study on perceived stress and pet ownership in US college students

Abstract Background : This pilot study explores the impact of pet ownership on the perceived stress levels and overall college experiences of undergraduate students at a large urban university in the USA, by comparing the experiences of students living with pets to those of students living without a pet. Methods : Sixty full-time undergraduate students completed an anonymous online survey measuring stress, lifestyle factors, and, for pet owners, aspects of their relationship with their companion animal. T-tests and Fisher’s exact tests were used to analyze group differences. Results : Results indicated no significant difference in self-reported stress levels between pet owners and non-owners overall. However, pet-owning students with jobs experienced higher weekday stress levels compared to pet-owning students without jobs. Additionally, students who had received complaints about their pet reported significantly higher stress levels. As expected, a statistically significant association was also found between students with emotional support animals and higher rates of seeking mental health support. Conclusions : These findings suggest that while pet ownership may not inherently increase or reduce stress, specific contextual factors such as workload, social pressures, and mental health history may play a critical role in the benefits of pet companionship for college students. This in turn suggests the need for increased availability of evidence-based resources and guidance for students considering pet ownership in college.