CHAI Research Featured on U.S. News & World Report

Monday, February 9, 2026

Therapy Dogs Ease Loneliness Among People Hospitalized for Mental Illness

To our knowledge, this is the first study of its kind to examine how dogs impact loneliness in people hospitalized for the treatment of acute mental illness," said lead research Nancy Gee, director of Virginia Commonwealth University's (VCU) Center for Human-Animal Interaction.

CHAI Research Featured on Psychology Today

Tuesday, December 2, 2025

The surprising link between pet attachment and mental health: How do attachments to pets affect mental health and well-being?

However, a careful long-term 2025 study of 600 older adults in Baltimore led by Erika Friedmann and Nancy Gee found that owners who were more strongly bonded to their pets experienced greater declines in well-being over time than less attached pet owners.

Herzog, H. (2025, December 2). The surprising link between pet attachment and mental health: How do attachments to pets affect mental health and well-being? Psychology Today. https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/animals-and-us/202511/the-surprising-link-between-pet-attachment-and-mental-health

Expert Commentary Featured in the New York Times

Friday, October 17, 2025

Dear pet sitter: Please lock up the knives and watch out for blimps.

According to a 2023 Pew Research Center study, 51 percent of pet owners say their pets are as much a part of the family as a human member. When people are asked to name those who they trust most, “pets will often be closer in their inner circle than family and friends,” Dr. Gee said.

Newman, J. (2025, October 17). Dear pet sitter: Please lock up the knives and watch out for blimps. New York Times. https://www.nytimes.com/2025/10/17/well/family/pet-sitters-vacation-notes.html

Expert Commentary Featured on Kinship

Wednesday, September 10, 2025

Do Dogs Actually Raise Our Serotonin Levels? They sure feel like the key to happiness.

As noted in The Role of Companion Animals in Treatment of Medical Disorders, a book co-written by Dr. Gee, there is an increasing amount of evidence that indicates pets may be beneficial to people experiencing PTSD, depression, or anxiety. Other research shows that having a dog tends to up your activity level, alleviate isolation, and provide a sense of purpose.

Mercado, M. (2025, September 10). Do dogs actually raise our serotonin levels? They sure feel like the key to happiness. Kinship. https://www.kinship.com/dog-lifestyle/do-dogs-raise-serotonin-levels

Expert Commentary Syndicated on AOL

Wednesday, March 19, 2025

The surprising health perks of having a pet.

Companion animals can help alleviate loneliness,” says Nancy R. Gee, Ph.D., director of the Center for Human-Animal Interaction at the Virginia Commonwealth University School of Medicine. “And older adults are particularly vulnerable to the negative impact of loneliness.

Posit Science (2025, April 19). The surprising health perks of having a pet. AOL. https://www.aol.com/surprising-health-perks-having-pet-170500021.html