A Growing Body of Evidence Suggests Pet Loss Can Trigger Chronic Grief, Redefining What It Means to Be Bereaved.
Researchers have long known that humans form strong bonds with their pets. However, it's now becoming increasingly clear that these relationships can be just as emotionally devastating as those with family members. A recent study published in the PLOS One journal reveals that people experiencing the loss of a pet may be suffering from prolonged grief disorder (PGD), a mental health condition characterized by intense longing and despair.
According to the survey, conducted among 975 adults in the UK, nearly 8% of those who had lost pets met the diagnostic criteria for PGD. This rate is strikingly similar to that found after the death of close friends or family members, including grandparents (8.3%), siblings (8.9%), and partners (9.1%). The study suggests that up to one in 12 cases of PGD in the UK may be attributed to pet loss.
Researchers have long cautioned against shame or stigma associated with expressing grief over a deceased pet. However, the new findings suggest that these feelings are not only unwarranted but also dismissive of the profound emotional impact pets can have on their owners.
According to Dr. Philip Hyland, lead researcher and professor of psychology at Maynooth University in Ireland, "The symptoms of grief for a pet match identically with those for a human. There is no difference in how people experience these losses." He argues that current diagnostic guidelines are outdated and fail to recognize the legitimacy of pet-related bereavement.
Hyland's team estimates that nearly one-fifth of people who have experienced both pet and human loss reported that their grief over the pet was more intense, a finding that challenges previous assumptions about the relative significance of these losses. The research highlights the need for expanded diagnostic guidelines to include pets as legitimate risk factors for PGD.
The implications of this study are far-reaching. By recognizing the complexity and depth of human-animal relationships, we may be forced to reevaluate our understanding of grief and bereavement. As Hyland so eloquently puts it, "This would be an extraordinarily difficult position to defend... It's not just scientifically misguided but also callous."
Researchers have long known that humans form strong bonds with their pets. However, it's now becoming increasingly clear that these relationships can be just as emotionally devastating as those with family members. A recent study published in the PLOS One journal reveals that people experiencing the loss of a pet may be suffering from prolonged grief disorder (PGD), a mental health condition characterized by intense longing and despair.
According to the survey, conducted among 975 adults in the UK, nearly 8% of those who had lost pets met the diagnostic criteria for PGD. This rate is strikingly similar to that found after the death of close friends or family members, including grandparents (8.3%), siblings (8.9%), and partners (9.1%). The study suggests that up to one in 12 cases of PGD in the UK may be attributed to pet loss.
Researchers have long cautioned against shame or stigma associated with expressing grief over a deceased pet. However, the new findings suggest that these feelings are not only unwarranted but also dismissive of the profound emotional impact pets can have on their owners.
According to Dr. Philip Hyland, lead researcher and professor of psychology at Maynooth University in Ireland, "The symptoms of grief for a pet match identically with those for a human. There is no difference in how people experience these losses." He argues that current diagnostic guidelines are outdated and fail to recognize the legitimacy of pet-related bereavement.
Hyland's team estimates that nearly one-fifth of people who have experienced both pet and human loss reported that their grief over the pet was more intense, a finding that challenges previous assumptions about the relative significance of these losses. The research highlights the need for expanded diagnostic guidelines to include pets as legitimate risk factors for PGD.
The implications of this study are far-reaching. By recognizing the complexity and depth of human-animal relationships, we may be forced to reevaluate our understanding of grief and bereavement. As Hyland so eloquently puts it, "This would be an extraordinarily difficult position to defend... It's not just scientifically misguided but also callous."
my grandma had a cat that passed away like 2 years ago and I still get these weird feelings of sadness whenever I see a stray cat on the street... it's crazy how much we can form with animals, they're not just pets to us, they're family members too 
. Time to give pet loss the grief it deserves 
.
. I mean, who doesn't know that losing a pet is super hard? 
My own fur baby passed away a few years ago and man, it was like losing a member of my family 
. We need to recognize that our relationships with animals are real and valid emotional connections 
. I mean, we all know how attached we get to our pets, and when they pass away, it's like losing a member of the family too. The fact that 8% of people in the UK meet the diagnostic criteria for prolonged grief disorder after losing their pet is pretty shocking... I'd say we should be acknowledging that pets play such a huge role in our lives and our emotions 
. It just feels so unfair to dismiss these feelings as "not a big deal" when, for some people, it's actually really tough 
. Maybe it's time to update those diagnostic guidelines to include pets as legitimate risk factors for PGD 
.
. I mean, we've all been there - losing a beloved pet and feeling like a part of us is missing 
. And it makes total sense to me, considering how attached we get with our furry friends 
. I think this study is a game-changer and we need to start recognizing that pet loss can be just as devastating as human loss 
. Maybe then we'll stop being so dismissive of people's feelings and actually listen to what they're going through 
.
Animals are more than just pets, they're family members! I think this study is interesting because it shows how much of an impact our pets have on us. I've been there myself, losing my cat a few years ago and it was like losing a part of me. The fact that many people experience prolonged grief disorder after losing their pets is mind-blowing. 
. It's amazing that researchers are finally giving credence to the depth of our feelings 
. It's time we acknowledge the complexity of human-animal relationships and give them the recognition they deserve 
Meanwhile, there are actual humans out there suffering and dying left and right, but no one bats an eye because we're just too caught up in our own emotions 
.
. This study is a good reminder that we need to take our human-animal relationships more seriously and recognize the emotional impact they have on us. Maybe then we can start having more nuanced conversations about grief and bereavement 
. We shouldn't feel guilty or ashamed to express our grief over a deceased pet.
and people are all like "oh, it's just a pet, get over it." But now we know that's not true 
. Maybe we should start giving pet owners a break when they're feeling down?