The Human-Animal Bond

The holidays are a time to appreciate the important relationships in life. To pet owners, there is nothing more special than the bond shared with their pets. The human-animal bond is, “a mutually beneficial and dynamic relationship between people and animals that is influenced by behaviors that are essential to the health and well-being of both.”¹ Most pet owners can likely attest to the positive impact that human-animal bonds have on their well-being. However, what does the science say? 

How pet ownership may improve human health

• Biophilia
  • Humans have an innate tendency to connect with other forms of life. Studies have documented babies and patients with impaired social skills focusing more on animals than other objects in their environment.^2–4Thus, it is possible that humans returned to a more natural and healthy state when living with pets.
• Companionship
  • Humans are social creatures, and simply being with another living being can reduce loneliness and isolation. The presence of a residential dog in a nursing home has resulted in happier, more alert, and more responsive patients.^5,6 In studies with inmates who were required to care for an animal, the participants demonstrated improved mental well-being.⁷
• Social interaction
  • Being with animals in public can attract people with similar interests, leading to conversations and potential friendships. Studies have shown that walking with dogs resulted in a higher chance of conversations with strangers than walking alone.^8,9 Wheelchair users accompanied by service dogs had significantly more friendly approaches from unfamiliar adults on a shopping trip than if they were alone.¹⁰
• Stress reduction
  • Pet owners are familiar with the comfort of being with their pets. In fact, simply petting or looking at an animal has been shown to decrease blood pressure and heart rate transiently.¹¹ The presence of a pet dog or cat resulted in lower heart rate and blood pressure in people exposed to psychological and physical stressors.¹²

Pet ownership’s impact on specific health conditions

• Cardiovascular health
  • Studies have shown a positive impact of dog ownership on cardiovascular health parameters. Lower systolic blood pressure has been observed in pet owners vs. non-owners.¹³ Presence of a pet (specifically a dog) improved ambulatory blood pressure in older adults with hypertension.¹⁴ Dog ownership was associated with a lower risk of death for heart attack survivors and reduced risk of death for stroke survivors vs. non-dog owners.¹⁵ However, not all research in this area has demonstrated a positive correlation between pet ownership and cardiovascular disease prevention and recovery.

• Animals and depression
  • Dog ownership or working with service dogs has demonstrated a reduction in depression.^16–18 However, not all studies have yielded positive results, with a study showing pet owners being more likely to have suffered depression than non-pet owners during their lifetime.¹⁹

Positive associations between physical and mental well-being come from human-animal interactions, but more studies are needed for specific medical interventions. Of course, there is more to the human-animal bond than measurable health parameters. The animals also benefit from the relationship, including safety, shelter, and improved nutrition. Animal companionship is wonderful, but it needs to be done for the right reasons and situation (love of the animal, ability to care for the animal, etc.) to result in a fruitful relationship instead of being done for potential benefits.

References

1. Human Animal Bond Research Institute. What is the human-animal bond? HABRI. Accessed December 5, 2022. https://habri.org/about/
2. DeLoache JS, Pickard MB, LoBue V. How very young children think about animals. In: How Animals Affect Us: Examining the Influences of Human–Animal Interaction on Child Development and Human Health. American Psychological Association; 2011:85-99. doi:10.1037/12301-004
3. Prothmann A, Ettrich C, Prothmann S. Preference for, and Responsiveness to, People, Dogs and Objects in Children with Autism. Anthrozoös. 2009;22(2):161-171. doi:10.2752/175303709X434185
4. O’Haire ME, McKenzie SJ, Beck AM, Slaughter V. Social behaviors increase in children with autism in the presence of animals compared to toys. PloS One. 2013;8(2):e57010. doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0057010
5. Kaiser L, Spence LJ, McGavin L, Struble L, Keilman L. A dog and a “happy person” visit nursing home residents. West J Nurs Res. 2002;24:671-683. doi:10.1177/019394502320555412
6. Abrahamson K, Cai Y, Richards E, Cline K, O’Haire ME. Perceptions of a hospital-based animal assisted intervention program: An exploratory study. Complement Ther Clin Pract. 2016;25:150-154. doi:10.1016/j.ctcp.2016.10.003
7. Fournier AK, Geller ES, Fortney EV. Human-animal interaction in a prison setting: Impact on criminal behavior, treatment progress, and social skills. Behav Soc Issues. 2007;16:89-105. doi:10.5210/bsi.v16i1.385
8. Wells DL. The facilitation of social interactions by domestic dogs. Anthrozoös. 2004;17(4):340-352. doi:10.2752/089279304785643203
9. McNicholas J, Collis GM. Dogs as catalysts for social interactions: Robustness of the effect. Br J Psychol. 2000;91(1):61-70. doi:10.1348/000712600161673
10. Hart LA, Hart BL, Bergin BL. Socializing Effects of Service Dogs for People with Disabilities. Anthrozoös. 1987;1(1):41-44. doi:10.2752/089279388787058696
11. Shiloh S, Sorek G, Terkel J. Reduction of state-anxiety by petting animals in a controlled laboratory experiment. Anxiety Stress Coping Int J. 2003;16:387-395. doi:10.1080/1061580031000091582
12. Allen K, Blascovich J, Mendes WB. Cardiovascular reactivity and the presence of pets, friends, and spouses: the truth about cats and dogs. Psychosom Med. 2002;64(5):727-739. doi:10.1097/01.psy.0000024236.11538.41
13. Anderson WP, Reid CM, Jennings GL. Pet ownership and risk factors for cardiovascular disease. Med J Aust. 1992;157(5):298-301.
14. Friedmann E, Thomas SA, Son H, Chapa D, McCune S. Pet’s Presence and Owner’s Blood Pressures during the Daily Lives of Pet Owners with Pre- to Mild Hypertension. Anthrozoös. 2013;26(4):535-550. doi:10.2752/175303713X13795775536138
15. Friedmann E, Katcher AH, Lynch JJ, Thomas SA. Animal companions and one-year survival of patients after discharge from a coronary care unit. Public Health Rep. 1980;95(4):307-312.
16. Guest CM, Collis GM, McNicholas J. Hearing dogs: a longitudinal study of social and psychological effects on deaf and hard-of-hearing recipients. J Deaf Stud Deaf Educ. 2006;11(2):252-261. doi:10.1093/deafed/enj028
17. Lem M, Coe JB, Haley DB, Stone E, O’Grady W. The Protective Association between Pet Ownership and Depression among Street-involved Youth: A Cross-sectional Study. Anthrozoös. 2016;29(1):123-136. doi:10.1080/08927936.2015.1082772
18. Muldoon AL, Kuhns LM, Supple J, Jacobson KC, Garofalo R. A Web-Based Study of Dog Ownership and Depression Among People Living With HIV. JMIR Ment Health. 2017;4(4):e8180. doi:10.2196/mental.8180
19. Mueller MK, Gee NR, Bures RM. Human-animal interaction as a social determinant of health: descriptive findings from the health and retirement study. BMC Public Health. 2018;18(1):305. doi:10.1186/s12889-018-5188-0

 

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About the Author

Dr. Dan Su works at BSM Partners as Director of Nutrition Services. His areas of expertise include nutritional management of dogs and cats, and the culinary arts. As a food and animal enthusiast, Dan loves to give his pets food names. He is the proud owner of a cat named Gravy.