Human-Animal Interactions and Health Outcomes

Human–animal interactions encompass pet ownership, animal-assisted interventions and wildlife engagement, each of which exerts measurable effects on physical, psychological and social well-being. Companion animals provide emotional support that can alleviate anxiety and depression, foster social connections and promote routine physical activity. In everyday life, dog walking serves as a conduit to meet recommended exercise targets, while therapy animals in clinical settings can enhance mood, cognition and engagement among older adults and people with long-term mental health conditions. During periods of social upheaval—most notably the COVID-19 pandemic—bonding with companion animals mitigated loneliness and buffered declines in mental health. At a population level, dog ownership has been linked to reduced incidence of cardiovascular disease and lower mortality rates. The One Welfare perspective underlines the interdependence of human health, animal welfare and environmental stewardship. Balancing the benefits of human–animal bonds with considerations of zoonotic risk and the responsibilities of care is crucial to inform public health policy and maximise the global impact of these cost-effective, scalable interventions.

Research from Nature Portfolio

Recent prospective analyses of dog ownership in a nationwide cohort revealed that household dog owners, and especially those living alone, experience a lower risk of cardiovascular events and mortality, suggesting that the companionship and physical activity associated with dog ownership confer measurable cardioprotective effects. Large-scale community surveys have confirmed that dog owners engage in substantially more recreational walking and are four times more likely to meet recommended physical activity guidelines than non-owners. Moreover, longitudinal monitoring during periods of social isolation demonstrated a marked increase in dog adoptions without a corresponding rise in abandonment. These findings highlight bidirectional associations between the well-being of owners and their dogs and underscore the importance of maintaining animal welfare alongside human health under the One Welfare framework.

Human-Animal Interactions and Health Outcomes publication trend

The graph below shows the total number of articles in human-animal interactions and health outcomes across all publications each year (not limited to Nature Index journals).

Technical terms

HPA axis: Set of interactions between the hypothalamus, pituitary gland and adrenal glands that regulate stress hormone release.

SAM axis: Physiological pathway involving the sympathetic nervous system and adrenal medulla that mediates rapid stress responses.

One Welfare: Framework recognising the interconnections between human well-being, animal welfare and environmental health.

References

1. The Presence of a Pet Dog Is Associated with a More Balanced Response to a Social Stressor. Stresses (2024).
2. The power of support from companion animals for people living with mental health problems: a systematic review and narrative synthesis of the evidence. BMC Psychiatry (2018).
3. Human-animal relationships and interactions during the Covid-19 lockdown phase in the UK: Investigating links with mental health and loneliness. PLOS ONE (2020).
4. The Pet Factor - Companion Animals as a Conduit for Getting to Know People, Friendship Formation and Social Support. PLOS ONE (2015).
5. How might we increase physical activity through dog walking?: A comprehensive review of dog walking correlates. International Journal of Behavioral Nutrition and Physical Activity (2014).
6. Human–dog relationships during the COVID-19 pandemic: booming dog adoption during social isolation. Humanities and Social Sciences Communications (2020).
7. Dog ownership and the risk of cardiovascular disease and death – a nationwide cohort study. Scientific Reports (2017).
8. The Benefit of Pets and Animal‐Assisted Therapy to the Health of Older Individuals. Current Gerontology and Geriatrics Research (2014).
9. Dog owners are more likely to meet physical activity guidelines than people without a dog: An investigation of the association between dog ownership and physical activity levels in a UK community. Scientific Reports (2019).