The Relationship between Pet Attachment and Mood during COVID-19

As COVID-19 swept the nation and changed life as we knew it, people turned to unique ways to cope. Social distancing, face masks, and lockdowns brought a new way of life no one could have ever expected. Past research has shown that the COVID-19 pandemic and its changes brought mental health issues and illnesses to people everywhere, especially college students. However, research has also shown that having a pet during these changes can improve overall mood. Using a series of surveys to measure mood, pet attachment, and COVID-19 threat, data was collected from 69 participants and analyzed to view the correlation between these items. It was assumed that more attachment to a pet would result in more positive affect and less COVID-19 threat. Contrary to what was assumed, data did not show that there was any correlation between any of these items. Further research is needed to examine the relationship between pet attachment and mood during the COVID-19 pandemic