Pets' influence on their owners' psychological wellfare

The article discusses the interaction of a human and a pet. The question of the influence of a pet on the psychological wellbeing and personal traits of its owner is considered. It is noted that in the Russian literature only a positive aspect of the influence of a pet on a person is revealed, while there is a need for a comprehensive coverage of the effect of an animal on mental health and other mental phenomena of a person, including both the advantages and disadvantages of the interaction in question. The authors focus on the situation of interaction between a disabled person and a pet. A theoretical analysis of foreign studies on the positive and negative effects of interaction of people (including disabled ones) and pets and their impact on the psychological wellbeing of the owners is carried out. Inconsistency and lack of quantitative research is identified. The authors present the results of the empirical study of the personality of disabled people having pets, and compare them with a group of disabled people who do not have pets. It has been shown that the presence of pets provides a positive effect on the emotional state of disabled people: their self-esteem, emotional stability and motivation to work increase, which is an important factor for creating a psychologically satisfactory life. It is concluded that individuals with disabilities who have pets as deputy social partners have greater self-efficacy and readiness for action.