Pet Dogs Benefit Owners’ Health: A ‘Natural Experiment’ in China

Headey, Bruce; Fu, Na; Zheng, Richard

doi:10.1007/s11205-007-9142-2

Cited by 85 publications

(46 citation statements)

References 18 publications

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“…In over 1000 adult Australians Headey (1999) found that dog and cat owners paid fewer annual doctor visits and were less likely to take medication for sleeping problems than non-pet owners. In a survey with over 3000 female participants between 25 and 40 years of age from Chinese cities, Headey et al (2008) report that dog owners, who comprised half of the sample, had higher self-reported fitness and health, exercised more frequently, slept better, saw their doctors less frequently, and took fewer days off from work than comparable non-dog owners.…”

Section: Effects Of Human-animal Interactionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Psychosocial and Psychophysiological Effects of Human-Animal Interactions: The Possible Role of Oxytocin

Beetz¹,

Uvnäs‐Moberg²,

Julius³

et al. 2012

Front. Psychology

553

436

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During the last decade it has become more widely accepted that pet ownership and animal assistance in therapy and education may have a multitude of positive effects on humans. Here, we review the evidence from 69 original studies on human-animal interactions (HAI) which met our inclusion criteria with regard to sample size, peer-review, and standard scientific research design. Among the well-documented effects of HAI in humans of different ages, with and without special medical, or mental health conditions are benefits for: social attention, social behavior, interpersonal interactions, and mood; stress-related parameters such as cortisol, heart rate, and blood pressure; self-reported fear and anxiety; and mental and physical health, especially cardiovascular diseases. Limited evidence exists for positive effects of HAI on: reduction of stress-related parameters such as epinephrine and norepinephrine; improvement of immune system functioning and pain management; increased trustworthiness of and trust toward other persons; reduced aggression; enhanced empathy and improved learning. We propose that the activation of the oxytocin system plays a key role in the majority of these reported psychological and psychophysiological effects of HAI. Oxytocin and HAI effects largely overlap, as documented by research in both, humans and animals, and first studies found that HAI affects the oxytocin system. As a common underlying mechanism, the activation of the oxytocin system does not only provide an explanation, but also allows an integrative view of the different effects of HAI.

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Section: Effects Of Human-animal Interactionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Psychosocial and Psychophysiological Effects of Human-Animal Interactions: The Possible Role of Oxytocin

Beetz¹,

Uvnäs‐Moberg²,

Julius³

et al. 2012

Front. Psychology

553

436

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

show abstract

“…Second, there are large numbers of dogs in rural China, and thus high exposure opportunity. Unlike urban areas in China where dogs are primarily kept as pets and leashed out of the home [22], dogs are raised in rural China for protection and left to wander the streets unleashed. Protection is deemed important because many adults (especially men) leave rural villages to seek work in larger cities.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

A Multi-Site Study on Knowledge, Attitudes, Beliefs and Practice of Child-Dog Interactions in Rural China

Shen

Xiang

et al. 2013

IJERPH

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This study examines demographic, cognitive and behavioral factors that predict pediatric dog-bite injury risk in rural China. A total of 1,537 children (grades 4–6) in rural regions of Anhui, Hebei and Zhejiang Provinces, China completed self-report questionnaires assessing beliefs about and behaviors with dogs. The results showed that almost 30% of children reported a history of dog bites. Children answered 56% of dog-safety knowledge items correctly. Regressions revealed both demographic and cognitive/behavioral factors predicted children’s risky interactions with dogs and dog-bite history. Boys behaved more riskily with dogs and were more frequently bitten. Older children reported greater risks with dogs and more bites. With demographics controlled, attitudes/beliefs of invulnerability, exposure frequency, and dog ownership predicted children’s self-reported risky practice with dogs. Attitudes/beliefs of invulnerability, dog exposure, and dog ownership predicted dog bites. In conclusion, both demographic and cognitive/behavioral factors influenced rural Chinese children’s dog-bite injury risk. Theory-based, empirically-supported intervention programs might reduce dog-bite injuries in rural China.

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“…Studies have found that adult pet owners live longer and have fewer health problems than non-pet owners (Friedmann et al 1980; Headey and Grabka 2007; Headey, Na and Zheng 2008; for comprehensive reviews, see Cutt et al 2007; Wells 2009; O’Haire 2010). Studies have also shown positive psychological effects of pet ownership: pet owners tend to be less lonely, less depressed, and more socially engaged, and to perceive their communities as more cohesive than non-pet owners (Garrity et al 1989; Allen et al 1991; Wood, Giles-Corti and Bulsara 2005).…”

mentioning

confidence: 99%

Genetic and Environmental Influences on Individual Differences in Frequency of Play with Pets among Middle-Aged Men: A Behavioral Genetic Analysis

et al. 2012

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There is growing evidence that pet ownership and human–animal interaction (HAI) have benefits for human physical and psychological well-being. However, there may be pre-existing characteristics related to patterns of pet ownership and interactions with pets that could potentially bias results of research on HAI. The present study uses a behavioral genetic design to estimate the degree to which genetic and environmental factors contribute to individual differences in frequency of play with pets among adult men. Participants were from the ongoing longitudinal Vietnam Era Twin Study of Aging (VETSA), a population-based sample of 1,237 monozygotic (MZ) and dizygotic (DZ) twins aged 51–60 years. Results demonstrate that MZ twins have higher correlations than DZ twins on frequency of pet play, suggesting that genetic factors play a role in individual differences in interactions with pets. Structural equation modeling revealed that, according to the best model, genetic factors accounted for as much as 37% of the variance in pet play, although the majority of variance (63–71%) was due to environmental factors that are unique to each twin. Shared environmental factors, which would include childhood exposure to pets, overall accounted for <10% of the variance in adult frequency of pet play, and were not statistically significant. These results suggest that the effects of childhood exposure to pets on pet ownership and interaction patterns in adulthood may be mediated primarily by genetically-influenced characteristics.

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Pet Dogs Benefit Owners’ Health: A ‘Natural Experiment’ in China

Abstract: Pets, Health, China, Natural experiment,

Cited by 85 publications

References 18 publications

Psychosocial and Psychophysiological Effects of Human-Animal Interactions: The Possible Role of Oxytocin

Psychosocial and Psychophysiological Effects of Human-Animal Interactions: The Possible Role of Oxytocin

A Multi-Site Study on Knowledge, Attitudes, Beliefs and Practice of Child-Dog Interactions in Rural China

Genetic and Environmental Influences on Individual Differences in Frequency of Play with Pets among Middle-Aged Men: A Behavioral Genetic Analysis

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