Pawsitive impact: exploring associations between pet keeping and connection to nature

Abstract

Abstract People spend less time in nature, contributing to a decline in connection with nature. Pets or companion animals play a prominent role in many people’s lives, yet quantitative empirical evidence on the relationship between pet keeping and connection to nature remains limited. This study therefore surveyed 2548 participants in Germany to examine associations between keeping a dog, cat, horse, other mammal, bird, fish, or terrarium animal and respondents’ connection to nature. A multiple linear regression model including seven pet types and the covariates age, gender, and place of residence was estimated. In this model, keeping a dog, cat, or horse as well as age, gender, and place of residence were associated with connection to nature. To further examine the role of the three covariates, three separate follow-up models testing moderation by age, gender, and place of residence were conducted. While cat and horse keeping were positive in the initial model, these associations may be attributable to age (cats) and gender (horses), whereas dog keeping showed the most consistent positive association across models. These results provide valuable insights into the associations between pet keeping and connection to nature, particularly highlighting that dog keeping is positively associated with higher levels of connection to nature. Given the observational nature of the data, no conclusions about causality or directionality can be drawn. Further research, ideally using longitudinal or experimental designs, is needed to clarify these associations and explore implications for environmental education and conservation strategies.