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

Abstract

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.

Prevalence of Irritable Bowel Syndrome in Singapore and Its Association with Dietary, Lifestyle, and Environmental Factors

“…[23][24][25][26] Pet ownership could be a compensatory mechanism in patients suffering from IBS, perhaps due to the beneficial effects of pet-companionship on mood disorders, depression, and anxiety. 27 Although we did not collect information on mood or psychological profiles in our subjects, anxiety, and mood disorders have been found to be more prevalent among patients suffering from IBS. 28,29 On the other hand, pet ownership is inevitably associated with an increased exposure to animal dander.…”

Beneficial Dog Bacteria Up-Regulate Oxytocin and Lower Risk of Obesity

“…We chose saliva because one fundamental aspect of the human-canine bond is the gesture of licking that spreads oral cavity microbes on the recipient's skin surface. Recognizing that L. reuteri ATCC 6475 bacteria collected from human milk was found to up-regulate oxytocin when fed to mouse models [30], and that oxytocin is pivotal in caninehuman bonds and weight control [2, [36][37][38], we postulated that dogs may harbor and spread similar microbes that modulate oxytocin and impart a slim physique in the recipient. To test this possibility, we first interrogated the canine oral microbiome using molecular assays and microbial culture (Figure 1).…”

Pets' Impact on Your Patients' Health: Leveraging Benefits and Mitigating Risk

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