Pet dogs: Does their presence influence preadolescents' emotional responses to a social stressor?

Kerns, Kathryn A.; Stuart-Parrigon, Kaela L; Coifman, Karin G.; Dulmen, Manfred H. M. van; Koehn, Amanda

doi:10.1111/sode.12246

Cited by 43 publications

(34 citation statements)

References 40 publications

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“…Both in riders and dog owners self-reported mood ratings during/after the activity correlated with their pet attachment [63], which was in accordance with other studies [20,97]. They feel positive emotions [97] and happiness [20].…”

Section: Pet Attachmentsupporting

confidence: 89%

Nature Relatedness of Recreational Horseback Riders and Its Association with Mood and Wellbeing

Schwarzmüller-Erber

Stummer

Maier

et al. 2020

IJERPH

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Connectedness to nature and nature contact can provide many benefits to humans, like stress reduction, recovery from illness, and increased positive emotions. Likewise, recreational horseback riding is a widespread sports activity with the potential to enhance physical and psychological health. Yet, the influence of connectedness to nature on the wellbeing of older aged recreational horseback riders has not been investigated so far. The aim of the present study therefore was to explore the relationship between nature relatedness and physical, psychological and social wellbeing and happiness. The study sample was composed of Austrian recreational horseback riders aged 45 years and older, who were compared with dog owners and people without pets (n = 178). We found significantly higher nature relatedness, significantly higher overall wellbeing and a significantly better mood rating in recreational horseback riders compared to people without pets and similar scores compared to dog owners. Physical wellbeing is correlated with overall nature relatedness in horseback riders and dog owners, but no correlation was found in people without pets. A structural equation model shows a direct relationship between nature relatedness and mood in horseback riders and an indirect relationship through pet attachment in dog owners. The results suggest the activity with horses and dogs in nature environments is a source of wellbeing, enjoyment, self-confidence and social contacts.

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Section: Pet Attachmentsupporting

confidence: 89%

Nature Relatedness of Recreational Horseback Riders and Its Association with Mood and Wellbeing

Schwarzmüller-Erber

Stummer

Maier

et al. 2020

IJERPH

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“…Similarly to loneliness, the reduction occurred rapidly within 3 months and persisted until the end of the study. The mood enhancing effects of acute human–dog interactions, detailed above, may improve chronic measures of affect through the occurrence of regular acute human–dog interactions as seen in dog ownership [31, 32, 65]. We also observed a reduction in negative affect in the lagged control group, albeit to a lesser extent than the dog acquisition group, which may be the result of study participation effects [78], as described above.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 60%

“…A possible explanation for our findings is that human–dog interactions elicit acute positive effects on mood [31, 32, 65], and the regular occurrence of these interactions, as seen in dog ownership, produces long-term improvements. Indeed, research investigating the efficacy of canine interactions in reducing psychological distress in university students [31, 32] and preadolescents [65] has found brief human–dog interactions can acutely improve positive affect and reduce negative affect. Considering the association between loneliness and negative mood [66], it is plausible that the potential mood enhancing effects of regular human–dog interactions may reduce loneliness.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Companion dog acquisition and mental well-being: a community-based three-arm controlled study

et al. 2019

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BackgroundDog ownership is suggested to improve mental well-being, although empirical evidence among community dog owners is limited. This study examined changes in human mental well-being following dog acquisition, including four measures: loneliness, positive and negative affect, and psychological distress.MethodsWe conducted an eight-month controlled study involving three groups (n = 71): 17 acquired a dog within 1 month of baseline (dog acquisition); 29 delayed dog acquisition until study completion (lagged control); and 25 had no intentions of acquiring a dog (community control). All participants completed the UCLA Loneliness Scale (possible scores 0–60), Positive and Negative Affect Schedule and Kessler10 at baseline, three-months and eight-months. We used repeated measures ANCOVAs to analyse data with owner age and sex included as covariates. Post-hoc tests were performed for significant effects (p < 0.05).ResultsThere was a statistically significant group by time interaction for loneliness (p = 0.03), with an estimated reduction of 8.41 units (95% CI -16.57, − 0.26) from baseline to three-months and 7.12 (95% CI -12.55, − 1.69) from baseline to eight-months in the dog acquisition group. The group by time interaction for positive affect was also significant (p = 0.03), although there was no change in the dog acquisition group.ConclusionsCompanion dog acquisition may reduce loneliness among community dog owners. Our study provides useful direction for future larger trials on the effects of dog ownership on human mental well-being.Trial registrationThis trial was retrospectively registered on 5th July 2017 with the Australian New Zealand Clinical Trials Registry (ACTRN12617000967381).

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“…Studies have found that short-term, unstructured interactions with a therapy dog can significantly reduce self-reported anxiety and distress levels [e.g., ( 18 )]. For example, children with their pet dog or a therapy dog present during a stressful task exhibit lower perceived stress and more positive affect compared to when alone ( 19 ), when a parent was present ( 20 ), or when a stuffed dog was present ( 21 ). In addition to psychological mechanisms, there are social and biological mechanisms at play as well.…”

Section: Theoretical Framework For Dog Interaction Benefitsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Dogs Supporting Human Health and Well-Being: A Biopsychosocial Approach

et al. 2021

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Humans have long realized that dogs can be helpful, in a number of ways, to achieving important goals. This is evident from our earliest interactions involving the shared goal of avoiding predators and acquiring food, to our more recent inclusion of dogs in a variety of contexts including therapeutic and educational settings. This paper utilizes a longstanding theoretical framework- the biopsychosocial model- to contextualize the existing research on a broad spectrum of settings and populations in which dogs have been included as an adjunct or complementary therapy to improve some aspect of human health and well-being. A wide variety of evidence is considered within key topical areas including cognition, learning disorders, neurotypical and neurodiverse populations, mental and physical health, and disabilities. A dynamic version of the biopsychosocial model is used to organize and discuss the findings, to consider how possible mechanisms of action may impact overall human health and well-being, and to frame and guide future research questions and investigations.

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Pet dogs: Does their presence influence preadolescents' emotional responses to a social stressor?

Cited by 43 publications

References 40 publications

Nature Relatedness of Recreational Horseback Riders and Its Association with Mood and Wellbeing

Nature Relatedness of Recreational Horseback Riders and Its Association with Mood and Wellbeing

Companion dog acquisition and mental well-being: a community-based three-arm controlled study

Dogs Supporting Human Health and Well-Being: A Biopsychosocial Approach

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