Introduction
A new study from Azabu University in Japan shows that teenagers who own dogs report higher well-being and fewer social problems than those who do not. The research, published in the journal iScience, followed 343 adolescents in Tokyo and examined both psychological and biological factors that might explain the difference.
At a Glance
- Higher well-being among 96 dog-owning teens versus 247 non-owners.
- Lower social problems and reduced withdrawal, thought, delinquent, and aggressive behaviors.
- Microbiome differences noted, suggesting a biological component.
- Mouse experiment indicates that dog-associated microbes may influence sociability.
Why it matters
The findings highlight pets as a potential resource for improving adolescent mental health and suggest new avenues for research into human-animal microbiome interactions.
Study Overview
The team led by Dr. Kikusui Takefumi observed 343 Japanese teenagers in Tokyo, of whom 96 owned dogs and 247 did not. At age 13, the dog-owner group had significantly lower social problems compared to the non-owner group.
Key Findings
- Higher well-being: “Adolescents who own dogs have a higher well-being than those who do not,” the study wrote.
- Reduced behavioral issues: “Social withdrawal, thought problems, delinquent behavior, and aggressive behavior scores among dog-owning adolescents were lower than those among non-dog-owning adolescents.”
- Companionship and support: Those who owned a dog during adolescence scored higher on measures of companionship and social support.
These results suggest that the social aspects of dog ownership-such as walking a pet and caring for it-contribute to improved mental health.
Biological Insights
Dr. Takefumi noted that the microbiome of a child is different if they own a dog, but researchers are not sure why. Possible explanations include:
- Bacteria from dogs entering children’s microbiomes.
- Changes in the gastrointestinal environment caused by living with dogs, possibly linked to shifts in psychological condition.
The study acknowledges adolescence as a critical period of brain development, where social interactions and prefrontal cortex maturation can have lasting mental effects.
Mouse Experiment
To explore the microbiome’s role, the researchers exposed mice to the oral microbiomes found in the dog-owning group and assessed social behaviors. The mice from the dog-owner microbiome group:
- Spent more time sniffing other mice.
- Approached trapped cagemates more frequently.
“Although it is not possible to directly compare human and mouse behavior, these results suggest that the microbiota is partly responsible for the improvement in adolescents’ social behavior after living with dogs,” the team wrote.
Broader Context: Cognitive Decline Study
A separate study published in Scientific Reports in July examined pet ownership and cognitive decline in adults over 50. Using 18 years of data, the research found:
- Dog and cat owners experienced slower decline in multiple cognitive domains.
- Dog owners improved in immediate and delayed recall.
- Cat owners improved in verbal fluency and delayed recall.
- Fish and bird ownership showed no significant association with cognitive decline.
These findings reinforce the idea that pets can positively influence mental health across age groups.
Implications
The combination of psychological and microbiological evidence points to several practical implications:
- Pet-friendly policies: Schools and community programs might consider dog-friendly initiatives to support teen well-being.
- Microbiome research: Further studies could investigate how pet-related microbes affect human social behavior.
- Holistic health approaches: Mental health practitioners might incorporate pet ownership discussions into counseling.
Key Takeaways
- Teenagers who own dogs report higher well-being and fewer social problems.
- The microbiome may play a role in these benefits, as suggested by both human and mouse data.
- Older adults also show cognitive benefits from dog and cat ownership.
- These insights support the integration of pets into mental health strategies for various age groups.
—
Sources: Study led by Dr. Kikusui Takefumi, Azabu University; published in iScience; Scientific Reports July study on pet ownership and cognitive decline.
