August 2009 Program

Directions in Human-Animal Interaction Research II:

THE ROLE OF PETS IN THE SOCIO-EMOTIONAL AND BIO-BEHAVIOURAL DEVELOPMENT OF CHILDREN

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Co-hosted by the WALTHAM Centre for Pet Nutrition and NICHD

Waltham Centre for Pet Nutrition, UK, 3rd - 5th August 2009

(download a pdf of the program HERE)

MONDAY 3rd August 2009

9.00 - 9.30 am

Welcome, opening comments, agenda, housekeeping

Session I - Pets and healthy socio-emotional development in children

BACKGROUND READING

Daly & Morton (2006).  An investigation of human-animal interactions and empathy as related to pet-preference, ownership, attachment, and attitudes in children.  Anthrozoos, 19, 113-127

McNicholas & Collis (2001).  Children's representation of pets in their social network.  Child Care Health, 27, 279-294. 

Bodsworth & Coleman.  (2001). Child-companion animal attachment bonds in single and two-parent families.  Anthrozoos, 14, 216-223.

9.30am   The role of pets in the classroom - Kurt Kotrschal (Konrad Lorenz Institute, Austria)

10.00am   Developing perceptions of animals in children - Judy DeLoache (University of Virginia, USA)

10.30am   Can pets act as family members? - Philip Tedeschi (The University of Denver Graduate School of Social Work - Institute for Human-Animal Connection, USA)

11.00 - 11.30am   BREAK

11.30am   Pets in the network of family relationships - June McNicholas, (Independent researcher, UK)

12.00-12.45pm     LUNCH

12.45-1.15pm     Respondents        

       Nathan Fox         

       Peter Bundred (Medical Dept., Liverpool University, UK)

1.15-1.45pm      DISCUSSION

Session II - Biological correlates

BACKGROUND READING

Nagengast, Baun, Megel & Liebowitz (1997).  The effects of the presence of a companion animal on physiological arousal and behavioral distress in children during a physical examination.  Journal of Pediatric Nursing, 12, 323-330.  

Allen, K., Blascovich & Mendes (2002).  Cardiovascular reactivity and the presence of pets, friends, and spouses: the truth about cats and dogs.  Psychosomatic Medicine, 64, 727-739. 

Nagasawa, M. Kikusui, T., Onaka, T. & Ohta, M. (2009) Dog's gaze at its owner increases owner's urinary oxytocin during social interaction. Hormones and Behavior 55:434-441.

1.45pm    Measurement of stress in childrenNathan Fox

2.15pm   Physiological and endocrine effects of social contact with pets - Kerstin Uvnas-Moberg (Prof. Of Animal Physiology, Stockholm)

2.45pm   The significance of human-animal relationships as modulators of trauma effects in children: a developmental neurobiological perspective - Jan Yorke (College of Social Work, Veterinary Social Work, University of Tennessee, Knoxville, US)

3.15-3.45pm        BREAK

3.45-4.00pm       Respondent       

      Karen Bales (Mind Institute, UC Davis, US)        

4.00-4.45pm          DISCUSSION

4.45pm                   CLOSE

TUESDAY 4th AUGUST 2009

8.30-9.00am              Refreshments

9.00-9.15am              Intro to the day

Session III - Pets and mental health issues

BACKGROUND READING

Martin & Farnum (2002).  Animal assisted therapy for children with pervasive developmental disorders. Western Journal of Nursing Research, Vol. 24, No. 6, 657-670.  

Souter, M. A., and Miller, M. D. (2007). Do animal-assisted activities effectively treat depression: A meta-analysis.  Anthrozoos 20, 167-180.

9.15am     Do pets protect against depression developing in young adolescents? - James Serpell (Director, Center for the Interaction of Animals & Society, Department of Clinical Studies, School of Veterinary Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, US)

9.45am   Epigenetic and timing of exposure issues of pets for children - James Swanson (University of California - Irvine, Dept of Pediatrics, Child Development Center)

10.15-10.45am          BREAK

10.45-11.15am          Respondent  

      Daniel Mills (Prof. Of Veterinary Ethology, Lincoln University, UK)   

      Allen Reiss (Center for Interdisciplinary Brain Sciences Research, Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Stanford School of Medicine, Stanford University, US)

11.15-12.00pm            DISCUSSION

12.00-12.45pm            LUNCH

Session IV: Pets as buffers to childhood trauma

BACKGROUND READING

Schultz PN, Remick-Barlow GA, Robbins L.  (2007) Equine-assisted psychotherapy: a mental health promotion/intervention modality for children who have experienced intra-family violence. Health Soc Care Community. 15(3):265-71. 

Strand (2004).  Interparental conflict and youth maladjustment: The buffering effect of pets.  Journal of Stress, Trauma and Crisis, 7

12.45pm   The Buffering Effects of Pets: Interparental conflict & youth maladjustment - Elizabeth Strand (Veterinary Social Work, University of Tennessee, College of Veterinary Medicine, College of Social Work, US)

1.15pm   Pets as mediators for the stress of clinical procedures - Mara Baun (School of Nursing, University of Texas, Health Science Center at Houston, US)

1.45pm   The Psychiatric Service Dog (PSD) Therapeuatic Model: harnessing twelve years of grass-roots development - Craig Love & Joan Esnayra (Walter Reed Military University, Washington DC, USA)

2.15-2.45pm                 BREAK

2.45pm                         Respondent   

      Valerie Maholmes, NICHD, USA

3.00 - 3.45pm                DISCUSSION

3.45-4.45pm                 

Final Session - Discussion

Led by co-chairs Lisa Freund (NICHD) and Sandra McCune (WALTHAM)

4.45pm                  Close

WEDNESDAY 5th AUGUST 2009

9.15-9.30am                 Refreshments

9.30-9.45am                 Introduction to the WALTHAM Centre

10.00-10.30am              WALTHAM's HAI programme - Dr Sandra McCune

10.30-11.00am               WALTHAM's wider research programme - Dr Paul Jones

11.00-11.30am               BREAK

11.30-12.45pm               Tour of the WALTHAM Centre

12.45-2.30pm                 Lunch

2.30-2.45pm                  Closing Comments