Abstract

This study explored the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on mental health of companion animal guardians. First, the extent to which emotional responses to COVID-19 predicted mental health outcomes was explored. Support from companion animals and humans as potential moderators of observed relationships between emotional responses and mental health was then investigated. Using data collected from 895 guardians, it was found that guardians experienced a range of positive and negative emotional responses. Regression analyses revealed that these responses predicted mental health outcomes. Negative emotional responses and loneliness showed a positive relationship with stress, anxiety, and depression, while positive emotional responses showed a negative relationship with stress and depression. Emotional closeness with companion animals, but not support from humans, moderated the relationship between negative emotional responses and both stress and anxiety, suggesting that when guardians experienced distress during the pandemic, they may have relied on companion animals for support.