Animals and their paws-itive effect on human health
Written by Jenny Phillips - 22nd April 2022 (National Pet Month)
The term health consists of the integration of psychological, physical, social, environmental, emotional and spiritual components, which make up an individual and enables them to function as a whole. Maximum health and being is a life well-lived to its fullest capacity. Animal interventions and connection is one way in which human health and wellbeing can be potentially enhanced.
Animals have the ability to help us in many different ways in our daily lives, from professional service support (i.e., guide dogs for the blind, hearing dogs for the deaf, or medical detection dogs) to those animals who offer us love, friendship and companionship in our daily lives, within homes, school, community, nature etc.
Animals and their connection to humans of all ages provide benefits to health at every stage of life. Contact with animals has been hypothesised to enhance the quality of life for humans across the psychological, physical, behavioural and social domains. Allen et al. (2002) states that the mere presence of a companion animal radiates life-affirming energy.
There are two commonly cited theories that empirically support the theoretical framework, describing how interaction with animals benefit the physical and mental health of humans, these are the biophilia hypothesis and social support hypothesis.
Biophilia hypothesis – This hypothesis states that humans have an innate need to attend to and be attracted by other animals and loving things, Wilson (1984). Animals today continue to give an enjoyable external focus for our attention, which results in a calming and relaxing effect on the observer. Unfortunately, with the increase in modern urban lifestyles and industrial society, many people including children have fewer and fewer opportunities to engage and interact with animals.
Social support hypothesis – This hypothesis states that a lack of social support is a big risk factor for both physical and psychological problems, Uchino et al., (1996). The hypothesis suggests that connection with animals is a form of social support in and of themselves, as well as acting as facilitators of social interactions with and between other human beings, effectively they act as a social lubricant and bridge social gaps.
Animals are well known for their nurturing behaviours and research has shown that animals of all kinds afford the opportunity and potential for better health and wellbeing outcomes for their human friends. These benefits come in guises including physiological, these identified possible benefits include:
· ↓ reduction of cardiopulmonary pressure
· ↓ reduction of blood pressure and heart rate
· ↓ reduction of sympathetic nervous system arousal
· ↓ reduction of pain and related medication
· ↓ reduction of stress and circulating stress hormones
· ↓ reduction of anxiety levels
· ↓ reduction of cortisol levels (stress hormone)
· ↓ reduction of loneliness and depression
· ↑ increase of morale and calmness
· ↑ increase of attention ability
· ↑ increase in physical activity / gross motor and fine motor skill development
· ↑ increase in self-esteem, self-belief, self-worth
· ↑ increase in endorphin, oxytocin, prolactin, phenylacetic acid and dopamine (wellbeing hormones)
· → improved cardiovascular health
· → improved thermoregulation
· → improved communication skills both verbal and non-verbal
· → improved mood
Building and strengthening the Immune System:
The hygiene hypothesis identifies a lack of young child exposure to infectious agents, symbiotic microorganisms and parasites heightens a child’s susceptibility to allergic diseases through suppression of the natural development of the immune system Schreiner (2016). Research has shown that children exposed to animals are more likely to have a stronger immune system and are less likely to develop childhood allergies and asthma, as well as evidencing that children were able to resist and fight off infections such as colds and flu more effectively than those with no exposure to animals. This impact means that children not only have strengthened immune systems, but as a result meant that children also had less days off school.
Encourages a healthy lifestyle
Animals of any species require different levels of care, interaction and exercise. This ranges from walking the dog to playing and engaging with a rabbit or guinea pig in the garden or an indoor environment. Engaging with animals prompts the development of healthy lifestyles in their careers, through encouraging them to be more active, mobile and participating in outside activities in the fresh air and open spaces.
The power of touch
Physical contact with an animal through touch can provide an emotionally uplifting effect for a person on humans. Research has shown that actively touching animals reduced rates of reported minor health problems. Contact with therapy animals within acute health care settings, has shown a reduction in the amount of inpatient residence time, thus meaning hospital stays were reduced in length. A study by Vagnoli et al. (2015) identified that during venepuncture procedures (blood tests), children who could actively stroke a dog reacted with significantly less behavioural distress and had significantly lower plasms cortisol concentrations, meaning that contact with a dog during this moderately painful procedure buffered anxiety, fear, distress and physiological stress.
Animals in nature – where the wild things are
Nature-Deficit Disorder was introduced in 2005 by Richard Louv, with the publication of “Last Child in the Woods: Saving Our Children from Nature-Deficit Disorder.” It is not a medical diagnosis but a term used to initiate discussion on an ever-growing issue facing children today.
The term identifies the human cost of detachment from nature and identifies issues with reduced and diminished use of senses, attention difficulties and the increased levels of physical and emotional illness.
Nature is free and so is all its benefits!
Birds, mini beasts and other animals can be observed within educational setting grounds, local walks within the community and time in local green spaces. Other animals can also be observed and engaged with through visits to local farms, nature reserves, wetlands, zoos, aquariums and shore lines.
Health benefits of nature engagement includes:
↑ Increased physical activity – reduction obesity
↑ Improved mental health
↓ Reduction of stress levels
↓ Reduction of aggressive behaviour
↑ Heightened sense of self-worth
↑ Heightened general wellbeing
Increased exposure to all forms of nature (this includes animals) improves the way in which children learn both informally and formally.
Snuggling up with the paws to health:
When people talk about animal contact and pets, their first thoughts are generally cats and dogs, but a pet doesn’t necessarily have to be one of these two animals. A rabbit or guinea pig could be an ideal animal if a person has a cat or a dog allergy or limited space is available. Birds have been recognised to encourage social interaction and keep minds sharp, and reptiles can make great exotic companions, especially for those who need slower moving animals. Even watching fish in an aquarium can help reduce a person’s muscle tone and pulse rate.
Animal engagement and pet ownership benefits to human health and wellbeing not only has positive impacts on individuals but also on health service provision. Better health and wellbeing generally mean less trips to the GP (General Practitioner), less trips to other allied health services and potentially less prescriptions, thus meaning additional savings in public health expenditure Headey & Grabka (2007). When people look at animals and they look back, or when we touch animals and make connections and bonds with them, beneficial neural and hormonal changes occur, it comes down to the resulting chemical reactions within our bodies.
The healing power of animals is a vast one.
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References:
Allen, K., Blascovich, J., & Mendes, W. (2002) Cardiovascular reactivity and the presence of pets, friends, and spouses: the truth about cats and dogs. Psychosomatic Medicine, 64, 727–739
Heady, B., Grabka, M. M. (2007). Pets and human health Germany and Australia: national longitudinal results. Soc. Indic. Res. 80, 297 – 311.
Schreiner, P. J. (2016). Emerging cardiovascular risk research: impact of pets on cardiovascular risk prevention. Current cardiovascular risk reports, 10(2), 8.
Uchino, B. N., Cacioppo, J. T., Kiecolt-Glaser, J. K. (1996). Th relationship between social support and psychological processes: a review with emphasis on underlying mechanisms and implications for health. Psychol. Bull. 119, 488-531.
Vagnoli, L., Caprilli, S., Vemucci, C., Zagni, S., Mugnai, F., & Messeri, A. (2015) Can presence of a dog reduce pain and distress in children during venipuncture? Pain Management Nursing, 16, 89–95.
Wilson, E. O. (1984). Biophilia. Harvard University Press. Cambridge, MA.
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As well as her extensive experience as a nurse, Jenny is a qualified Nursery Nurse with her NNEB, ADCE, CACHE Diploma level 3 and CACHE SEN cert and over 7 years of experience within a nursery setting. Jenny has spent time working as a lecturer in Child Health at Middlesex University and as a Qualified paediatric nurse and Neonatal intensive care nurse with over 13 years of experience in neonates. Her work as a disability youth worker led to Jenny gaining further qualifications, including two honours degrees and a MA in Inclusive Education, specifically focussing on therapeutic use of animals with children who have SEN to help education, development, growth, health and wellbeing. Jenny also has a PGCE. Currently, Jenny is also a forest school practitioner with 3 and 4 year olds, and is qualified in animal therapy and farm therapy.