Teen Mental Health Boosted by Pet Ownership, Studies Show

Research indicates that pet ownership, particularly of dogs, can significantly enhance mental health among teenagers. A study published in the journal iScience highlights how the presence of a family dog can positively influence the gut microbiome in adolescents, which in turn can impact mental well-being.

Dr. Takefumi Kikusui, an animal behaviorist at Azabu University in Japan, co-authored the study and noted that raising dogs has beneficial effects especially for adolescents. The study involved 247 non-dog owning and 96 dog-owning adolescents, revealing that those who owned dogs reported fewer social problems compared to their peers.

The research suggests that having a dog at home may shift the composition of mouth bacteria, potentially linked to better psychological outcomes. Interestingly, the study also explored the gut-brain axis, which is how gut bacteria can influence behavior and mental health.

Kikusui's team found that dog ownership could predict future mental health and behavioral scores in adolescents. By treating laboratory mice with microbiota samples from dog-owning teens, they observed that these mice displayed increased social behaviors, indicating that certain bacteria promoting prosociality were present in the microbiomes of adolescents who have dogs.

This finding suggests that the bond between dogs and humans may not only provide emotional support but also foster biological changes that enhance empathy and social interaction. The implications of this research are significant as they highlight a simple yet effective approach to improving youth well-being through pet ownership.

The study emphasizes the need for further research to understand how other variables, such as socioeconomic factors, influence the gut microbiome and overall mental health. However, the foundational evidence points to the positive role that family dogs can play in supporting mental health in adolescents, reinforcing the long-standing relationship between humans and canines.

Thus, promoting pet ownership could be a beneficial strategy for enhancing mental health among teenagers.