However, it is important to recognize that pet attachment may be more important in exerting these potential effects than pet ownership. Physiological mechanisms, such as activation of the oxytocin system may partly explain this reduction of psychological stress for humans who are in contact with animals. Thus, it is plausible that companion animals may have the potential to encourage better emotional health and reduce anxiety and depression. There is growing evidence that children turn to their pets for comfort, reassurance and emotional support when feeling anger, sadness, or happiness. This paper uses the term “youth” development to refer to all age ranges within Infancy (0–2 years), Early childhood (2–5 years), Later childhood (6–12 years) and Adolescence (13–18 years). Interactions with animals may affect several aspects of human development: emotional, behavioural, cognitive, educational and social.Ĭompanion animals (including horses, dogs, cats, rabbits and other rodents) have the potential to promote healthy emotional youth development in many ways, as shown by research in Human-Animal Interactions (HAI) (the mutual and dynamic relationships between people and animals and the ways in which these interactions may affect physical and psychological health and well-being of both people and their pets ). Considering that pet ownership also pertains risks, such as zoonoses, bites and asthma/allergies, it is important that the impact of pet ownership on childhood development is investigated in detail. Although pet ownership and children’s bonds with companion animals may have the potential to positively influence child and adolescent development, these relationships have received little attention and a need for research in this area has been recognized. Moreover, epidemiological studies suggest that pets are more likely to be found in households with children than in any other household type. households and 46% of British households include at least one companion animal. Yet, studies of child development have largely been limited to children’s relationships and interactions with other humans. Relationships with others are fundamental contributors to child and adolescent development according to relationship psychology and attachment theory. Prospective studies that control for a wide range of confounders are required.Ĭhildhood and adolescence are crucial life phases in their contribution to the quality of health, emotional well-being, learning and behaviour across the life span. Overall, pet ownership and the significance of children’s bonds with companion animals have been underexplored there is a shortage of high quality and longitudinal studies in all outcomes. Studies on pet ownership and social development provided evidence for an association with increased social competence social networks social interaction and social play behaviour. Evidence on behavioural development was unclear due to a lack of high quality research. Studies also showed evidence of an association between pet ownership and educational and cognitive benefits for example, in perspective-taking abilities and intellectual development. The findings regarding childhood anxiety and depression were inconclusive. The review found evidence for an association between pet ownership and a wide range of emotional health benefits from childhood pet ownership particularly for self-esteem and loneliness. A systematic search of databases and grey literature sources found twenty-two studies meeting selection criteria. As the field is in the early stages a broad set of inclusion criteria was applied. This paper provides an evidence review for the potential associations between pet ownership and emotional behavioural cognitive educational and social developmental outcomes. Social relationships are fundamental to child and adolescent development yet studies have been limited to children’s relationships with other humans. Childhood and adolescence are important developmental phases which influence health and well-being across the life span.
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