Daily human-animal interactions were positively associated with mental health among gig workers through enhancement of daily affect ratio, with this effect being stronger among individuals with higher levels of neuroticism.
Key Findings
Results
Daily human-animal interactions (HAI) were positively associated with mental health among freelance journalists through enhancement of the daily affect ratio.
Study used a daily diary design with 205 freelance journalists across 5 daily observations per participant, totaling 1025 observations
Multilevel analyses were used to examine the mediating role of daily affect ratio in the HAI-mental health relationship
The study was grounded in Affective Events Theory as its theoretical framework
Freelance journalists were selected as a representative sample of gig workers subject to instability, isolation, and lack of social support
Results
The positive effect of daily HAI on affect ratio was stronger among individuals with higher levels of neuroticism.
Neuroticism was examined as a moderator of the relationship between daily HAI and daily affect ratio
Higher neuroticism amplified the positive association between daily HAI and the affect ratio
This suggests that individuals more prone to negative emotional experiences may benefit more from human-animal interactions on a daily basis
The moderation was identified as one of three key findings from the multilevel analyses
Results
Neuroticism amplified the indirect effect of daily HAI on mental health via affect ratio, constituting a moderated mediation relationship.
The indirect pathway ran from daily HAI through daily affect ratio to mental health outcomes
Neuroticism moderated the first stage of this mediation (HAI to affect ratio), thereby moderating the overall indirect effect on mental health
This was identified as the third of three key findings from the multilevel analyses
The finding suggests gig workers high in neuroticism may derive the greatest mental health benefit from daily animal interactions
Background
Gig work characteristics including instability, isolation, and lack of social support were identified as factors that may adversely affect workers' mental health.
Gig work has emerged as one of the fastest-growing employment trends, with expansion accelerating during the COVID-19 pandemic
Freelance journalists were used as the study sample to represent gig workers
The study framed human-animal interactions as a potential mechanism to protect gig workers from psychological deterioration
Identifying protective mechanisms and conditions was described as essential given the mental health risks of gig work
What This Means
This research suggests that for freelance journalists and other gig workers, having daily interactions with animals—such as pets—may help protect their mental health. The study followed 205 freelance journalists over five days, finding that on days when workers had more human-animal interactions, they experienced a better balance of positive to negative emotions (called the 'affect ratio'), and this emotional improvement was linked to better mental health. Gig workers face particular challenges like job instability, social isolation, and limited workplace support, making it important to find accessible ways to support their wellbeing.
The research also found that not everyone benefits equally—people who score higher on neuroticism (a personality trait associated with greater emotional sensitivity and tendency toward negative emotions) appeared to gain even more benefit from animal interactions than those lower in neuroticism. This suggests that animal companionship may serve as a particularly valuable emotional resource for those who are naturally more vulnerable to stress and negative moods.
This research suggests that animal companionship could be a practical and accessible tool for supporting the mental health of gig economy workers, who often lack the social support structures available to traditional employees. Organizations, policymakers, and gig workers themselves may benefit from recognizing the psychological value of human-animal interactions, especially for those who work independently and in emotionally demanding conditions.
Junça-Silva A. (2026). When Gig Work Gets Ruff: The Affective Benefits of Daily Human-Animal Interactions for Mental Health.. International journal of psychology : Journal international de psychologie. https://doi.org/10.1002/ijop.70209