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. 2024 Sep 13;24(1):578.
doi: 10.1186/s12887-024-05049-7.

Companion animals and child development outcomes: longitudinal and cross-sectional analysis of a UK birth cohort study

Rebecca Purewal  1 , Robert Christley  1 , Katarzyna Kordas  2 , Carol Joinson  3 , Kerstin Meints  4 , Nancy Gee  5 , Carri Westgarth  6
Affiliations

Companion animals and child development outcomes: longitudinal and cross-sectional analysis of a UK birth cohort study

Rebecca Purewal et al. BMC Pediatr. .

Abstract

Background: Research into the impact of social relationships on childhood and adolescent health and wellbeing has been largely limited to children's relationships with other humans, while studies into the impact of pet ownership are sparse and have generally not adjusted for potential confounders. This study aimed to investigate the association between pet ownership and a range of developmental outcomes in childhood and adolescence.

Methods: Data were self-reports and direct assessments of approx. 14,000 children from the Avon Longitudinal Study of Parents and Children (ALSPAC). Multivariable regression models adjusting for confounding factors examined associations between developmental outcome measures (emotional health, behavioural development, cognitive development, language development, educational attainment) and concurrent pet ownership, including species, and also longitudinal pet ownership history and pet-interaction where possible. Analyses model numbers using multiple imputation varied from n = 393-8963.

Results: In cross-sectional analyses, owning a dog (b = 0.24, [0.06-0.41], p = .004) and owning other/miscellaneous pets (b = 0.18, [0.03-0.33], p = .021) at age 3 were associated with higher prosocial behaviour score. Owning a pet was associated with a higher non-verbal communication score at age 2 (cross-sectional, b = 0.18, [0.04-0.32], p = .014), and a higher language development score at age 5 (cross-sectional, b = 1.01, [0.18-1.83], p = .017). However, pet ownership was associated with lower educational attainment across a number of academic subjects and timepoints, in both cross-sectional and longitudinal analyses. It was also cross-sectionally linked to hyperactivity at age 3 and conduct problems at age 3 and 11. Furthermore, at age 8, cross-sectional analysis showed that children who owned any pets (OR [95% CI]: 0.85 [0.73-0.98], p= ·026) or cats (0.83, [0.73-0.95], p= ·006) had lower odds of high self-esteem (scholastic competence).

Conclusions: Using a large, well-designed longitudinal study and adjusting for key confounders, we found little evidence of cross-sectional or longitudinal associations between pet ownership and emotional health or cognitive outcomes in children. There may, however, be some cross-sectional and longitudinal association with poorer educational attainment and a positive impact on social interactions as seen through associations with enhanced language development and prosocial behaviour. This study demonstrates the importance of adjustment for confounding variables and suggests that, contrary to popular belief, positive impacts of pet ownership on childhood development may be mainly limited to social behaviour and language development.

Keywords: ALSPAC; Animals; Child development; Dogs; Longitudinal studies; Ownership.

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Conflict of interest statement

The study was funded by Waltham Petcare Science Institute with a grant held by Carri Westgarth and used to fund the studentship of Rebecca Purewal. Carri Westgarth reports a relationship with Waltham Petcare Science Institute that includes: consulting or advisory. Carri Westgarth reports a relationship with Forthglade Dog Food that includes: consulting or advisory. Nancy Gee reports that she was employed by the Waltham Petcare Science Institute at the time the study was selected for funding and conducted, is principal investigator on a separate study funded by Waltham, and has a consulting/advising relationship with Waltham and Animal Assisted Interventions of Singapore. Kerstin Meints reports grant funding from Waltham Petcare Science Institute for a separate research project from 2015 to 2019. Robert Christley reports that he currently works for Dogs Trust but did not at the time of this study.

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