anthrozoology.org
Research in Human-Animal Interaction
Pets & children
The effects of the presence of a companion animal on physiological arousal and behavioral distress in children
Nagengast, S. L., M. M. Baun, M. Megel, and J. M. Leibowitz.
Journal of Pediatric Nursing, v. 12, p. 323-30, 1997.
The purpose of this study was to examine the effects of the presence of a companion animal on physiological arousal and behavioral distress exhibited by preschool children during a routine physical examination. A within-subject, time-series design was used to study 23 healthy children ages 3 years to 6 years during two physical examinations, with and without a dog. Statistically significant differences were found with greater reductions in subjects' systolic and mean arterial pressure, heart rate, and behavioral distress when the dog was present. Findings support the use of a companion animal in reducing stress experienced by children during a physical examination.
Childhood asthma and early life exposure to indoor allergens, endotoxin and beta (1,3)-glucans.
Bertelsen, R. J.; Carlsen, K. C. L.; Carlsen, K. H.; Granum, B.; Doekes, G.; Haland, G.; Mowinckel, P.; Lovik, M.;
A Comparison of Maltreated Children and Non-Maltreated Children on Their Experiences with Animals-A Japanese Study
Yamazaki, Sakiko
Effects of Having Pets at Home on Children's Attitudes toward Popular and Unpopular Animals
Prokop, Pavol; Tunnicliffe, Sue Dale
Empathic Differences in Adults as a Function of Childhood and Adult Pet Ownership and Pet Type
Daly, Beth; Morton, L.L.
Anthrozoos: A Multidisciplinary Journal of The Interactions of People & Animals, Volume 22, Number 4, December 2009
Prompted by interesting but ambiguous findings that empathic differences in children may relate to pet preference and ownership, we extended the issue to an adult population. We investigated empathic-type responses in adults who lived with cats and/or dogs in childhood (Child-Pet) and currently (Adult-Pet), using the Interpersonal Reactivity Index (IRI), the Empathy Quotient (EQ), and the Animal Attitude Scale (AAS).
Social and Individual Components of Animal Contact in Preschool Children
Wedl, Manuela; Kotrschal, Kurt
Anthrozoos: A Multidisciplinary Journal of The Interactions of People & Animals, Volume 22, Number 4, December 2009
Humans are generally biophilic. Still, for unknown reasons, interest in animals varies substantially among individuals. Our goal was to investigate how differential interest of children towards animals might be related to social competence and personality. We proposed two alternatives: 1) Children may compensate for potential deficits in social competence by resorting to animals, and 2) Socially well-connected children may show a particular interest in animals. We focused on relationships between age, gender, family background, play behavior, personality components, and contact with rabbits in 50 children (22 boys/28 girls; 3 to 7 years of age) at a preschool in Krems/Austria. Data were analyzed using GLM. We found that each one of these variables had significant impact on intensity of engagement with the rabbits. In general, girls, children with siblings, and children without pets were more oriented towards the rabbits than were boys, children without siblings, or pet-owning children. The older the children, the less frequently they occupied themselves with the rabbits but the longer they remained when they did engage them. Furthermore, we found that the more "Confident/Respected" (PCA factor 1) and less "Patient/Calm," "Cheerful/Sociable," and "Solitary" (PCA factors 2-4) the children, the more time they spent in direct occupation with rabbits. Most effects of the investigated variables varied between boys and girls. By and large, our findings support the hypothesis that the "socially competent" children were particularly interested in the animals. Also, children's social styles, as evinced in interactions with peers, were generally reflected in how they interacted with the rabbits.
An investigation into the prevalence of dog bites to primary school children in Trinidad.
Georges K. Adesiyun A.
Preschoolers' adherence to instructions as a function of presence of a dog and motor skills task.
Gee, N. R.; Sherlock, T. R.; Bennett, E. A.; Harris, S. L.;
Robotic Pets in Human Lives: Implications for the Human–Animal Bond and for Human Relationships with Personified Technologies
Journal of Social Issues, Vol. 65, No. 3, 2009, pp. 545--567
Preschoolers' Adherence to Instructions as a Function of Presence of a Dog and Motor Skills Task
Gee, Nancy R.; Sherlock, Timothy R.; Bennett, Emily A.; Harris, Shelly L.
Anthrozoos: A Multidisciplinary Journal of The Interactions of People & Animals, Volume 22, Number 3, September 2009 , pp. 267-276(10)
Abstract:
The purpose of this study was to examine preschoolers' (n = 11) ability to follow instructions in the presence or absence of a real dog while executing a variety of motor skills tasks.
