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Animal Video Lovers Always Have Company: The Role of Cyber-Mediated Animal Attachment in Loneliness
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School of Marxism, China University of Geosciences (Beijing), Beijing 100083, China
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NTU Psychology, School of Social Science, Nottingham Trent University, Nottingham NG1 4FQ, UK
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Authors to whom correspondence should be addressed.
Animals 2025, 15(17), 2593; https://doi.org/10.3390/ani15172593
Submission received: 14 July 2025
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Revised: 26 August 2025
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Accepted: 1 September 2025
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Published: 4 September 2025
(This article belongs to the Special Issue People and Pets: Factors Affecting the Acquisition, Characteristics and Relinquishment of Companion Animal Relationships)
Simple Summary
Many people enjoy watching cute or heartwarming animal videos online, but little is known about how this activity may affect our emotions. This study explored whether watching animal videos on the internet can help reduce feelings of loneliness. The researchers introduced a new concept called “cyber-mediated animal attachment,” which refers to the emotional connection people can form with animals they see in digital media. Using a survey and an experiment, this study found that people who spent more time watching animal videos tended to feel less lonely. This was not just because the videos were fun or uplifting. Instead, it was the emotional bond with the animals that played a key role in reducing loneliness. Compared with funny videos featuring people, animal videos were more likely to create such emotional connections. These findings suggest that animals, even when viewed through a screen, can provide a sense of connection. This highlights the unique role of animals in supporting emotional well-being and suggests potential ways in which digital animal content might help people.
Abstract
Growing engagement with online animal videos has raised questions about their potential psychological benefits. While prior research links pet attachment to reduced loneliness, little is known about whether similar effects arise from online animal interactions. This study introduces the concept of cyber-mediated animal attachment—emotional bonds formed with animals in digital media—and investigates its role in mediating the relationship between video engagement and loneliness. The model’s incremental validity was further assessed beyond the explanatory power of personality traits and emotional states. Two sub-studies were conducted, comprising a questionnaire survey and an experimental study. The findings revealed that (1) engagement with online animal videos was significantly negatively associated with levels of loneliness, and this relationship was linear rather than nonlinear; (2) cyber-mediated animal attachment mediated the relationship between video engagement and loneliness; and (3) compared to humorous human videos that elicit similar positive emotions, animal videos were more likely to evoke attachment toward the video character, which in turn contributed to reduced loneliness. These results provide empirical support for the role of online animal videos in alleviating loneliness, help clarify the psychological mechanisms of virtual attachment, and offer new perspectives and intervention strategies for addressing loneliness through digital means.
