The Causal Effect of Pet Ownership on Health and Well-being

Abstract

Despite a large strand of literature investigating how pet ownership is associated with different health and well-being outcomes, almost all studies are cross-sectional and use non-random samples. Using Australian longitudinal data and leveraging a policy change that allowed renters in the state of Victoria to get pets but did not apply to renters in other parts of the country, we estimate the causal effect of obtaining a pet on life satisfaction, loneliness, mental health, and general health. Using the stability-controlled quasi-experiment (SCQE) estimator that provides partial identification within a quasi-experimental study, under plausible assumptions we find no significant effects of pe..