Journal ArticleDOI
The Effects of Animals on Human Health and Well-Being
TLDR
The evidence for a direct causal association between human well‐being and companion animals is not conclusive, but the literature reviewed is largely supportive of the widely held, and long‐standing, belief that "pets are good for us."Abstract:
Substantial sums of money are invested annually in preventative medicine and therapeutic treatment for people with a wide range of physical and psychological health problems, sometimes to no avail. There is now mounting evidence to suggest that companion animals, such as dogs and cats, can enhance the health of their human owners and may thus contribute significantly to the health expenditure of our country. This paper explores the evidence that pets can contribute to human health and well‐being. The article initially concentrates on the value of animals for short‐ and long‐term physical health, before exploring the relationship between animals and psychological health, focusing on the ability of dogs, cats, and other species to aid the disabled and serve as a "therapist" to those in institutional settings. The paper also discusses the evidence for the ability of dogs to facilitate the diagnosis and treatment of specific chronic diseases, notably cancer, epilepsy, and diabetes. Mechanisms underlying the ability of animals to promote human health are discussed within a theoretical framework. Whereas the evidence for a direct causal association between human well‐being and companion animals is not conclusive, the literature reviewed is largely supportive of the widely held, and long‐standing, belief that "pets are good for us."read more
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Psychosocial and Psychophysiological Effects of Human-Animal Interactions: The Possible Role of Oxytocin
TL;DR: A review of the evidence from 69 original studies on human-animal interactions (HAI) which met their inclusion criteria with regard to sample size, peer-review, and standard scientific research design is presented in this paper.
Journal ArticleDOI
Human-animal bonds I: the relational significance of companion animals.
TL;DR: The evolution of human-animal bonds is surveyed, research on their health and mental health benefits is reviewed, and their profound relational significance across the life course is examined.
Journal ArticleDOI
The Impact of Pets on Human Health and Psychological Well-Being Fact, Fiction, or Hypothesis?
TL;DR: The authors argue that the existence of a generalized "pet effect" on human mental and physical health is at present not a fact but an unsubstantiated hypothesis and discuss some reasons why studies of the effects of pets on people have produced conflicting results.
Journal ArticleDOI
Animal-Assisted Intervention for Autism Spectrum Disorder: A Systematic Literature Review
TL;DR: It is demonstrated that there is preliminary “proof of concept” of AAI for ASD and the need for further, more rigorous research is highlighted.
Journal ArticleDOI
Toward a psychology of human–animal relations.
Catherine E. Amiot,Brock Bastian +1 more
TL;DR: The current state of research on human-animal relations is reviewed, showing how this body of work has implications for a diverse range of psychological themes including evolutionary processes, development, normative factors, gender and individual differences, health and therapy, and intergroup relations.
References
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TL;DR: Current progress in epidemiology, pathology, diagnosis, and treatment of type 1 diabetes, and prospects for an improved future for individuals with this disease are discussed.
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The Dynamogenic Factors in Pacemaking and Competition
TL;DR: A copy of the official bicycle records made up to the close of the season of 1897 was obtained from the Racing Board of the League of American Wheelmen, and from these records certain facts are given, which, with the help of the chart showing the times made for certain distances by professionals in the three kinds of races principally dealt with, will make clearer the discussion following.