September 2022 PMID 36057711

The relationship between attachment to pets and mental health: the shared link via attachment to humans.

Johanna Lass-Hennemann, Sarah K Schäfer, M Roxanne Sopp, Tanja Michael

Mentions

62
Peak: 22 in Oct 2022
across 5 sources since Sep 2022

Extended reach

78,892
potential audience

Total likes

64

Video views

62

Mentions per month

Sep 2022 – Sep 2025

Where it's discussed

  • X / Twitter41 posts
  • News14 articles
  • Blogs3 articles
  • YouTube2 videos
  • Facebook2 posts

AI synopsis

What people are saying

The discussions reflect strong interest in the research's implications, with many users referencing studies on the relationship between emotional attachment to pets and mental health, highlighting phrases like 'greater fear of rejection' and 'higher mental health burden.' The tone varies from critical remarks to sharing personal or professional insights, demonstrating both curiosity and skepticism, which collectively underscore the importance of the topic without suggesting a widespread paradigm shift.

AgreementLow agreement

Most discussions point out that the research findings support the idea that attachment to pets can negatively impact mental health, though some temporarily express skepticism or question specific interpretations.

InterestHigh interest

The topic clearly sparks high interest, as many comments reference related studies, theories, and personal observations about pets and mental health.

EngagementModerate engagement

Posts show some depth, with users citing specific studies, discussing interpretations, and relating theories about attachment styles, indicating engaged but not deeply analytical responses.

ImpactModerate impact

While the discussion highlights relevant mental health concerns, the overall impact appears moderate, mainly influencing awareness and sparking debate rather than prompting immediate change.

Top posts

Most liked on X and Bluesky
Hal Herzog
@herzoghal · X

Ouch... "A stronger attachment to one’s dog was also related to a greater fear of being rejected and unloved (Anxiety), which was, in turn, associated with a higher mental health burden." https://t.co/nCZszMjA0h

Oct 6, 2022 · 21 likes · 11 shares · 4,758 followers View post →
David Schmitt
@PsychoSchmitt · X

"A stronger emotional attachment to one’s dog was associated with a higher mental health burden...attachment to humans fully mediated this relationship" https://t.co/Q0VbIRwecN https://t.co/lazXgES1eX

Oct 27, 2022 · 14 likes · 4 shares · 12,442 followers View post →
Clive Wynne
@caninecognition · X

Stronger emotional attachment to dog associated with lower comfort, trusting in other people, & greater fear of rejection, which, in turn, was related to higher mental health burden. https://t.co/JtrusYn7o5 https://t.co/qPqPxgckze

Oct 27, 2022 · 11 likes · 4 shares · 4,129 followers View post →
Hal Herzog
@herzoghal · X

Oh no...."Moreover, a stronger attachment to one's dog was also related to a greater fear of being rejected and unloved (Anxiety), which was, in turn, associated with a higher mental health burden." https://t.co/nCZszMj2aJ

Feb 7, 2023 · 8 likes · 4,758 followers View post →
Dr Rajneesh Reddy
@reddy_rajneesh · X

Research on dog owners finds that people with stronger relationships to their pets display more symptoms of mental disorders and distress. https://t.co/K5opPtb2aq https://t.co/KiwmNZ5Tcq

Oct 31, 2022 · 4 likes · 2 shares · 344 followers View post →
egal
@bozzisha · X

@krks_eda10 @AlperGuven1999 @onbirkursun https://t.co/fgIrZ61UMo tabi dogrudur diyemem ama arastirmanin sonucu bunu gostermis. buna ek olarak evcil hayvanlarini cocuk gibi goren insanlarin gercek cocuk yapmaktan cekindikleri icin boyle davrandiklarini gosteren bir arastirma da okumustum bir ara bulursam atarim

Dec 19, 2023 · 3 likes · 83 followers View post →

All mentions

Xavi O
@XaviO82818 · X

@BruixaLei @paubert39 The relationship between attachment to pets and mental health: the shared link via attachment to humans Lass-Hennemann et al. (2022)

Sep 7, 2025 · 93 followers View post →
swarm23
@swarm23war · X

@bterrierdogs The man-dog love is out of control these days and is a psychological disorder. https://t.co/mQMdZ5nO4y

Jul 9, 2025 · 1,271 followers View post →
cedric
@treebeing · X

@Race2Extinct I am aware - involved in outreach/education as a volunteer. Studies on the relationship between emotional attachment to pets&mental health already out. The relationship between attachment to pets and mental health: the shared link via attachment to humans https://t.co/pqiu7g96xw https://t.co/p9wSokhAKp

Mar 9, 2025 · 1 like · 482 followers View post →
mmsm54
@sdlmuela · X

The relationship between attachment to pets and mental health: the shared link via attachment to humans. https://t.co/k8Piz7yNRE

Feb 25, 2025 · 24 followers View post →
Moriarty
@nepphiss · X

@ajrbb2020 @nanaavcs @ciroalvarz7 @Amby_Mb Estudio 1: los animales SI se deprimen. https://t.co/AnLcVYOnhu

Oct 23, 2024 · 67 followers View post →
CRUX Psychology
@cruxpsychology · X

#mentalhealth #mentalhealthawareness #MentalHealthMatters #psychology #pets #doglover #catlover (Lass-Hennemann et al., 2022) https://t.co/6hXGdKbJMN (Hawkins et al., 2021) https://t.co/vD7zin6QfA

Oct 15, 2024 · 404 followers View post →
José Pinto ✝️ Cristão Novo
@2dedostesta5 · X

@InesSousaReal @Partido_PAN Several studies have investigated the relationship between emotional attachment to pets & mental health with the majority of studies finding a negative relationship between emotional attachment to pets and mental health. Falta-te um parafuso

Jul 30, 2024 · 21 followers View post →
José Pinto ✝️ Cristão Novo
@2dedostesta5 · X

@LMontenegropm @aguiarbranco @MaduroPoiares @RcostaRicardo @PCMagalhaes @ruitavares @IsabelLMMoreira @MRMortagua @JoanaMortagua @DGSaude @LilianaValente @manjos Several studies have investigated the relationship between emotional attachment to pets & mental health with the majority of studies finding a negative relationship between emotional attachment to pets and mental health. Falta um parafuso à Inês

Jul 30, 2024 · 21 followers View post →
egal
@bozzisha · X

@krks_eda10 @AlperGuven1999 @onbirkursun https://t.co/fgIrZ61UMo tabi dogrudur diyemem ama arastirmanin sonucu bunu gostermis. buna ek olarak evcil hayvanlarini cocuk gibi goren insanlarin gercek cocuk yapmaktan cekindikleri icin boyle davrandiklarini gosteren bir arastirma da okumustum bir ara bulursam atarim

Dec 19, 2023 · 3 likes · 83 followers View post →
NeuroClass
@neuroclass1 · X

Jun 13, 2023 · 1 like · 10,112 followers View post →
Avery T. Hassin
@HassinAvery · X

@marck_ansar @ccamacho88 https://t.co/VZ6bmK9wQu dime, para que se metieron en el caso del perro as3sinado, no te afectaba en nada o si?

Jun 1, 2023 · 31 followers View post →
Avery T. Hassin
@HassinAvery · X

@marck_ansar @ccamacho88 https://t.co/GoT9J2n5ct los narcicistas siempre salen con lo mismo de "es su vida no te metas" pero solo a conveniencia, para que se metieron en primer lugar en el caso del perro as3sinado? No te afectaba en nada o si?

Jun 1, 2023 · 31 followers View post →
λ_⛤
@nd3rgr0und_st4x · X

on a similar note, an archetypal passive-aggressive parental environment can create an archetypal 'insecure attachment style'. those w insec. attach also often have 'parasocial' connection w pets where human-to-human anxieties are masked, not solved https://t.co/5clh1vWLUu

Apr 23, 2023 · 101 followers View post →
Ted Wilbur
@wilbur_ted · X

https://t.co/qL0vsmfgvY

Feb 16, 2023 · 472 followers View post →
Ted Wilbur
@wilbur_ted · X

https://t.co/qL0vsmfgvY

Feb 7, 2023 · 472 followers View post →
Hal Herzog
@herzoghal · X

Oh no...."Moreover, a stronger attachment to one's dog was also related to a greater fear of being rejected and unloved (Anxiety), which was, in turn, associated with a higher mental health burden." https://t.co/nCZszMj2aJ

Feb 7, 2023 · 8 likes · 4,758 followers View post →
Maria
@MariaS_S1999 · X

The relationship between attachment to pets and mental health: the shared link via attachment to humans | BMC Psychiatry | https://t.co/e4qcQ6f9NU

Nov 12, 2022 · 108 followers View post →
Dr Rajneesh Reddy
@reddy_rajneesh · X

Research on dog owners finds that people with stronger relationships to their pets display more symptoms of mental disorders and distress. https://t.co/K5opPtb2aq https://t.co/KiwmNZ5Tcq

Oct 31, 2022 · 4 likes · 2 shares · 344 followers View post →
Ted Wilbur
@wilbur_ted · X

https://t.co/26VyLVV2Xo

Oct 28, 2022 · 472 followers View post →
Dr. Chris Blazina
@DrChrisBlazina · X

RT @caninecognition: Stronger emotional attachment to dog associated with lower comfort, trusting in other people, & greater fear of reject…

Oct 28, 2022 · 4 shares · 4,917 followers View post →
Orhon Can Dağtekin
@orhoncand · X

sanki bazen Thor’un mental kapasitesi bazı insanlardan daha fazlaymış gibi geliyor, bilemiyorum…https://t.co/u1KIxrP00A

Oct 28, 2022 · 2,639 followers View post →
Dog Cognition SE
@DogCognitionSE · X

RT @caninecognition: Stronger emotional attachment to dog associated with lower comfort, trusting in other people, & greater fear of reject…

Oct 28, 2022 · 4 shares · 7,013 followers View post →
Anindita Bhadra
@Abhadra7 · X

RT @caninecognition: Stronger emotional attachment to dog associated with lower comfort, trusting in other people, & greater fear of reject…

Oct 27, 2022 · 4 shares · 3,252 followers View post →
Dog Latin, canine anxiety-fear-agression pros
@doglatinbeth · X

RT @caninecognition: Stronger emotional attachment to dog associated with lower comfort, trusting in other people, & greater fear of reject…

Oct 27, 2022 · 4 shares · 43 followers View post →
Antonio Bayo
@AntonioBayo3 · X

RT @PsychoSchmitt: "A stronger emotional attachment to one’s dog was associated with a higher mental health burden...attachment to humans f…

Oct 27, 2022 · 4 shares · 23 followers View post →
Richard Harper
@harpersnotes · X

RT @PsychoSchmitt: "A stronger emotional attachment to one’s dog was associated with a higher mental health burden...attachment to humans f…

Oct 27, 2022 · 4 shares · 2,219 followers View post →
Clive Wynne
@caninecognition · X

Stronger emotional attachment to dog associated with lower comfort, trusting in other people, & greater fear of rejection, which, in turn, was related to higher mental health burden. https://t.co/JtrusYn7o5 https://t.co/qPqPxgckze

Oct 27, 2022 · 11 likes · 4 shares · 4,129 followers View post →
Paulo F.
@PFinuras · X

RT @PsychoSchmitt: "A stronger emotional attachment to one’s dog was associated with a higher mental health burden...attachment to humans f…

Oct 27, 2022 · 4 shares · 869 followers View post →
David Schmitt
@PsychoSchmitt · X

"A stronger emotional attachment to one’s dog was associated with a higher mental health burden...attachment to humans fully mediated this relationship" https://t.co/Q0VbIRwecN https://t.co/lazXgES1eX

Oct 27, 2022 · 14 likes · 4 shares · 12,442 followers View post →
Ander Retolaza
@AnderRetolaza · X

Estudios Futuros deben de examinar si los Lazos Emocionales con las #Mascotas podrían constituir una Estrategia Compensatoria para amortiguar experiencias difíciles de Vinculación Infantil. Vïa ⁦@SEPsiqLegal⁩ https://t.co/WOiwOqFg1h

Oct 21, 2022 · 695 followers View post →
James Herriot
@MrHerriot · X

RT @herzoghal: Ouch... "A stronger attachment to one’s dog was also related to a greater fear of being rejected and unloved (Anxiety), whic…

Oct 7, 2022 · 11 shares · 827 followers View post →
Problempetsolutions
@problempet · X

RT @herzoghal: Ouch... "A stronger attachment to one’s dog was also related to a greater fear of being rejected and unloved (Anxiety), whic…

Oct 7, 2022 · 11 shares · 101 followers View post →
Pavulous
@pavulous · X

RT @herzoghal: Ouch... "A stronger attachment to one’s dog was also related to a greater fear of being rejected and unloved (Anxiety), whic…

Oct 7, 2022 · 11 shares · 626 followers View post →
edgarisca
@edgarisca · X

RT @herzoghal: Ouch... "A stronger attachment to one’s dog was also related to a greater fear of being rejected and unloved (Anxiety), whic…

Oct 6, 2022 · 11 shares · 437 followers View post →
Taylor Rezvani, PhD
@IntegratedSpeci · X

RT @herzoghal: Ouch... "A stronger attachment to one’s dog was also related to a greater fear of being rejected and unloved (Anxiety), whic…

Oct 6, 2022 · 11 shares · 57 followers View post →
Dr Zazie Todd (PhD)
@CompAnimalPsych · X

RT @herzoghal: Ouch... "A stronger attachment to one’s dog was also related to a greater fear of being rejected and unloved (Anxiety), whic…

Oct 6, 2022 · 1 like · 11 shares · 13,222 followers View post →
Tania Signal
@noxnz · X

RT @herzoghal: Ouch... "A stronger attachment to one’s dog was also related to a greater fear of being rejected and unloved (Anxiety), whic…

Oct 6, 2022 · 11 shares · 393 followers View post →
Karin Hediger
@KarinHediger · X

RT @herzoghal: Ouch... "A stronger attachment to one’s dog was also related to a greater fear of being rejected and unloved (Anxiety), whic…

Oct 6, 2022 · 11 shares · 88 followers View post →
Hal Herzog
@herzoghal · X

Ouch... "A stronger attachment to one’s dog was also related to a greater fear of being rejected and unloved (Anxiety), which was, in turn, associated with a higher mental health burden." https://t.co/nCZszMjA0h

Oct 6, 2022 · 21 likes · 11 shares · 4,758 followers View post →
STARS LAB - Saarland University
@STARSLab_Saar · X

Our newly published study shows a positive relationship between emotional #Attachment to #pets and #mentalhealthburden that is accounted for by shared variance between emotional attachment to pets and #insecureAttachment to humans. https://t.co/zTx3OuIH5e

Sep 9, 2022 · 54 followers View post →
Mary
@awoofoflove · X

The relationship between attachment to pets and mental health: the shared link via attachment to humans https://t.co/zgV9xNM24h

Sep 4, 2022 · 386 followers View post →