Children with pets less likely to suffer from anxiety

The researchers enrolled a consecutive sample of 643 children over 18 months of age (average age, 6.7 years) in a pediatric primary care setting. Among the 58 percent of children with a dog in the home, 12 percent tested positive on a screening test for anxiety compared to 21 percent of children who did not have a pet dog.

The researchers note that companionship with a pet can alleviate separation anxiety and strengthen attachment. They suggest that having a dog as a pet could reduce childhood anxiety, particularly social and separation anxiety, in various ways, such as stimulating conversation and creating an ice-breaking effect that alleviates social anxiety.

“Interacting with a friendly dog also reduces cortisol levels, most likely through oxytocin release, which lessens physiologic responses to stress,” the researchers suggested. “These hormonal effects may underlie the observed emotional and behavioral benefits of animal-assisted therapy and pet dogs.”