Researchers Study Benefits of Pet Ownership on Children Published April 17, 2014 By Yolanda Arrington Health.mil FALLS CHURCH, Va., -- Almost 70 percent of U.S. households have at least one domestic pet, according to the American Pet Products Association. For many pet owners, these furry friends become part of the family, offering unconditional love and support. But could there be a greater connection between pets and humans? Does owning a pet early in life lead to the development of life skills or even stronger mental health? Psychologist Megan Mueller, an assistant professor at Tufts University's School of Veterinary Medicine, is researching the connection between human-animal interaction and the possible link to positive human development. Mueller has partnered with the Military Child Education Coalition to study how pet ownership and activities like horseback riding and livestock contests may be beneficial to a child's mental well-being. The research is still very new, but Mueller is hoping to find out whether having a pet provides a sense of companionship and emotional support. "A lot of youth talk about how when parent is deployed, an animal is source of comfort and companionship for them. Animals are nonjudgmental and they're a nice way for young people to express their feelings to a nonjudgmental listener," Mueller said. "Pets can bring such joy to people's lives and ... a real sense of purpose." Research is being done in two areas: pet ownership and therapeutic animals. Studies show that pet ownership is associated with lower levels of loneliness and depressive symptoms. "There's also some evidence that animals reduce stress and anxiety," Mueller said. People have all kinds of different relationships with their pets, she explained, adding that dog owners often report being very attached to them. Pet ownership can also help children practice social skills as well as give them a sense of responsibility for the care of another living being. Still, this is a growing field of study with promising preliminary results. "We are just analyzing the data now. We just finished collecting data. It's kind of hot off the presses. We're starting to see that interacting with animals is related to positive outcomes," Mueller noted. "We hope to have the data analyzed ... in a couple of months." In the meantime, her colleagues are also exploring other benefits of pet ownership, including how pets help children stay active. Mueller cautions that parents and physicians should not take these early findings as grounds for recommending pets for all children. "We don't like to prescribe having pets. It really depends on an individual family's circumstances. We wouldn't want a family that's feeling overwhelmed to get an animal and then feel burdened. You have to think about what's best for your family [and also] take into account the animal's welfare and needs. They are living, breathing creatures," Mueller said. The best way to know if adopting a pet is for you is to assess your available time and activity level and the kinds of things you would do with your pet. Mueller warns that some animals require more attention and exercise than others. Military families should especially take that into consideration in light of frequent moves and sometimes limited living space.