Emotional Benefits of Pets Through Gen Z's Eyes
Posted by Chris Chandler on
A new video from the American Pet Products Association (APPA)’s Pets Add Life (PAL) initiative sets out to show the emotional benefits of pet ownership. The video, which is part of PAL’s A Pet Sees You campaign, is geared specifically for members of the gen Z population.
According to the American Psychological Association (APA), gen Z is significantly more likely than other generations to report their mental health as fair or poor.
“We acknowledge that times are incredibly stressful for everyone right now, but our younger generations in particular tend to bear the weight of that stress and anxiety, and need our attention now more than ever,” said Steve King, CEO of APPA.
Research from the 2019-2020 APPA National Pet Owners Survey found that more than any other generation, gen Z identifies stress relief (66 percent) and reduced levels of anxiety and depression (61 percent) as specific health benefits of pet ownership.
“In this campaign, we knew authenticity was of utmost importance and wanted this generation to tell their stories in their own words with their real-life animal companions by their sides,” King said. “It is truly powerful to witness how impactful pets can be in helping them through these trying times.”
Captured in short-film format, this video weaves together content created by six gen Z individuals, as they navigate through the struggles and challenges they face on a daily basis, all the while accompanied by their pets who clearly provide comfort and support.
“A growing amount of scientific research supports the power of the human-animal bond as a way of improving both the mental and physical well-being of humans,” King said. “We’re incredibly proud of these talented young individuals for sharing their stories and helping us further reinforce the science behind the pet-effect.”
In conjunction with the new A Pet Sees You video launch, PAL has provided links on its website to mental health lifelines, quizzes to help respondents find their perfect pet, influencer testimonials, a pet finder and conversation starters to help teens talk to their parents about getting a pet.
Access the video and article at this link: