The relationship between humans and dogs has long been cherished, with dogs often described as "man's best friend." As breeders, we are already quite aware of the impact our dogs made on our lives. It’s not rare to hear heartwarming stories on the shows about the special connection that one can share with their four-legged companion. We are acutely aware that our dogs bring us comfort and help us ease anxiety or stress, research has prooven that they are capable of helping us with anxiety, stress and more.
What’s interesting is that canine companions can significantly influence mental health and well-being across various contexts.
Merkouri et al. (2022) investigated the impact of the dog-owner relationship on mental health. His research found that stronger bonds provided emotional support and companionship. They also correlated with anxiety and depression, primarily due to the perceived responsibility and potential anticipatory grief associated with dog care.
Support for Children with Mental Challenges
Dogs play a crucial role in therapy for children with mental retardation. They significantly reduce anxiety levels and improve their quality of life (Aggarwal et al., 2022). The study "Psycho-Social Effects of Pet Dog Ownership on Mentally Challenged Children" by Aggarwal et al. explores the psychosocial benefits of pet dog ownership for children with mental disabilities. Conducted at the Department of Pediatrics, District Hospital, Amritsar, the study involved 112 children, ultimately focusing on 52 who acquired pets. The children were assessed using the Hamilton Anxiety Scale (HAM-A) before and after 3-6 months of pet ownership. The results revealed a significant decrease in anxiety levels among the children who owned pets, with no notable difference between local and foreign dog breeds. This reduction in anxiety is attributed to the calming effects of human-animal interactions, potentially mediated by neurobiological mechanisms like increased oxytocin levels. The study underscores the potential of pet ownership to improve the quality of life for mentally challenged children, offering them emotional support and reducing family tensions. These findings align with existing literature on the therapeutic benefits of animals and call for further research to explore long-term impacts and specific conditions that might benefit most from such interventions.
Smith et al. (2022) explored a wellness dog program in a university setting. He highlighted its potential to enhance the well-being of students, faculty, and staff through innovative collaborations, although implementation faced challenges due to the pandemic. Another study by the same group found that canine-assisted education significantly reduced stress and anxiety among college students, demonstrating the effectiveness of such interventions in improving mental health.
More research examples include: Lewin (2022) presented an innovative approach where swimming with Newfoundlands provided substantial mental health benefits, including lifting moods and reducing feelings of despair. McDowall et al. (2023) emphasized the dual benefits and ethical considerations of therapy dog programs, advocating for the inclusion of animal welfare in health promotion strategies.
In another study, families of children with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) who acquired pet dogs reported improvements in family functioning and reductions in child anxiety, particularly in domains such as Obsessive Compulsive Disorder, panic attacks, social phobia, and separation anxiety (Wright et al., 2015). The presence of pet dogs in these families provided a sense of stability and reduced overall family stress.
A longitudinal study found that children who interacted with pet dogs showed improved social skills and decreased anxiety. The study utilized a newly developed Lincoln Autism Pet Dog Impact Scale (LAPDIS) to assess these changes and found that dog ownership positively impacted the children’s adaptability and social skills (Hall et al., 2016).
The human-dog relationship is more than mere companionship; it strongly relates to mental health and general well-being. An array of studies reviewed here shows the multifaceted benefits accruing from such companionship, from the reduction in anxiety and improvement in quality of life for children with mental challenges to increases in the general well-being of university students and provision of stability for families with children with Autism Spectrum Disorder. The research also mentions the possibilities of dogs providing emotional help, improving social interactions, and a sense of tranquility through human-dog relations. But on this count, it is crucial to acknowledge the dual nature of this relationship. The responsibilities of dog ownership can also contribute to stress and anxiety.
Future research should continue to explore the long-term impacts of canine companionship across various populations and contexts, identifying specific conditions that benefit the most from these interventions. Another issue is that animal welfare needs to be considered in therapeutic programs to secure the ethics and sustainability of the practices.
The bond between human beings and dogs enriches our lives and, at the same time, holds promising potential for work that is therapeutic and supportive in the sphere of mental health and well-being.
BIBLIOGRAPHY:
Aggarwal, S., Aggarwal, R., Sodhi, M., & Aggarwal, S. (2022). Psycho-Social Effects of Pet Dog Ownership on Mentally Challenged Children. Cureus, 14. https://doi.org/10.7759/cureus.26389.
Hall, S., Wright, H., & Mills, D. (2016). What Factors Are Associated with Positive Effects of Dog Ownership in Families with Children with Autism Spectrum Disorder? The Development of the Lincoln Autism Pet Dog Impact Scale. PLoS ONE, 11. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0149736.
Lewin, P. (2022). Mental health and wellbeing. Companion, 2022(May), 10-13. https://doi.org/10.22233/20412495.0522.10
McDowall, S., Hazel, S. J., Cobb, M., & Hamilton-Bruce, A. (2023). Understanding the role of therapy dogs in human health promotion. International Journal
Merkouri, A., Graham, T. M., O’Haire, M. E., Purewal, R., & Westgarth, C. (2022). Dogs and the good life: A cross-sectional study of the association between the dog–owner relationship and owner mental wellbeing. Frontiers in Psychology, 13, 903647. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyg.2022.903647
Smith, J. M. R., Smith, J., Nowell, L., Lind, C., Chalhoub, S., McMillan, C., Jackson, J., & dela Cruz, A. (2022). A dog with an office: The process of embedding a wellness dog intervention in a university setting. Issues in Mental Health Nursing, 43(6), 461-470. https://doi.org/10.1080/01612840.2022.2067275
Smith, J. M. R., Smith, J., Nowell, L., Lind, C., Chalhoub, S., McMillan, C., Jackson, J., & dela Cruz, A. (2022). Should dogs have a seat in the classroom? The effects of canine assisted education on college student mental health. The Open Journal of Occupational Therapy, 10(1), 1816. https://doi.org/10.15453/2168-6408.1816
Wright, H., Hall, S., Hames, A., Hardiman, J., Mills, R., Team, P., & Mills, D. (2015). Pet Dogs Improve Family Functioning and Reduce Anxiety in Children with Autism Spectrum Disorder. Anthrozoös, 28, 611 - 624. https://doi.org/10.1080/08927936.2015.1070003.
Comments