SynthesisInternational journal of environmental research and public health2017
Companion Animals and Child/Adolescent Development: A Systematic Review of the Evidence.
Synthesis in International journal of environmental research and public health, 2017. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 104 papers, 3 of them syntheses that pooled it.
What it found
Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.
The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.
The trial behind it
Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.
Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.
Who cites it
104 citing papers in PubMed, 3 syntheses or guidelines pooled it, 287 citations in OpenAlex.
- Pet's influence on humans' daily physical activity and mental health: a meta-analysis.Frontiers in public health · 2023Pooled it
- Children's bond with companion animals and associations with psychosocial health: A systematic review.Frontiers in psychology · 2023Pooled it
- Dog ownership and mental health among community-dwelling older adults: A systematic review.International journal of geriatric psychiatry · 2022Pooled it
- The impact of a dog-facilitated mobile physical activity intervention on children's social-emotional development: a randomized controlled trial.Journal of public health (Oxford, England) · 2026Trial
- A mobile health intervention to encourage physical activity in children: a randomised controlled trial.BMC pediatrics · 2022Trial
- Evaluating a Novel Cat-Assisted Training (CAT) Intervention for Youth with Developmental Disabilities and Their Family Cat.Animals : an open access journal from MDPI · 2026Article
- Pathogens Associated with Domestic Cats (Pathogens (Basel, Switzerland) · 2026Review
- The relation between household dogs and cats during childhood/adolescence with social role outcomes and loneliness among youth with attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder.European child & adolescent psychiatry · 2026Article
- A retrospective analysis of rabies post-exposure prophylaxis in Kapilvastu District, Nepal.BMC public health · 2026Article
- Effects of dog ownership on children's social-emotional development: findings from the PLAYCE cohort study.Pediatric research · 2026Article
- Urban veterinary accessibility and community well-being in Japan: a cross-sectional analysis using regional indicators.The Journal of veterinary medical science · 2026Article
- Exploring Cat-Human Interaction as a Psychosocial Resource in Autism and ADHD: Risks, Engagement, and Well-Being.Behavioral sciences (Basel, Switzerland) · 2026Article
- Association between pet ownership and mental health in university students with borderline personality disorder symptoms.BMC psychiatry · 2026Article
- Preliminary associations between pet ownership and mental health in youth with diabetes.Frontiers in clinical diabetes and healthcare · 2026Article
- From furry friends to fit teens: unveiling the role of active dog breeds in shaping adolescent physical activity and screen time behaviors.BMC public health · 2025Article
- Associations Between Pet Type (Co-Walkable, Indoor-Only, and Ornamental Pets) and Well-Being: Findings from a Large-Scale Cross-Sectional Study in Japan.International journal of environmental research and public health · 2025Article
- Human-pet interaction and well-being in mid-to-later adulthood: moderating roles of neuroticism and anxious attachment.BMC public health · 2025Article
- The mediating role of loneliness in the relationship between pet ownership and human well-being.Scientific reports · 2025Article
- Impact of pet ownership in early childhood at ages 1 and 4-5 years on mental health at ages 7-8: findings from the INMA project.World journal of pediatrics : WJP · 2025Article
- Parents' Perceptions of What Health Means for Adolescents with Depression-A Qualitative Study.Children (Basel, Switzerland) · 2025Article
44 more citing papers are in PubMed but not listed here.
Corrections and comments
PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.
Authors and funding
7 authors at 4 institutions in 2 countries.
Funding
No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.
Abstract
Childhood and adolescence are important developmental phases which influence health and well-being across the life span. Social relationships are fundamental to child and adolescent development; yet studies have been limited to children's relationships with other humans. This paper provides an evidence review for the potential associations between pet ownership and emotional; behavioural; cognitive; educational and social developmental outcomes. As the field is in the early stages; a broad set of inclusion criteria was applied. A systematic search of databases and grey literature sources found twenty-two studies meeting selection criteria. The review found evidence for an association between pet ownership and a wide range of emotional health benefits from childhood pet ownership; particularly for self-esteem and loneliness. The findings regarding childhood anxiety and depression were inconclusive. Studies also showed evidence of an association between pet ownership and educational and cognitive benefits; for example, in perspective-taking abilities and intellectual development. Evidence on behavioural development was unclear due to a lack of high quality research. Studies on pet ownership and social development provided evidence for an association with increased social competence; social networks; social interaction and social play behaviour. Overall, pet ownership and the significance of children's bonds with companion animals have been underexplored; there is a shortage of high quality and longitudinal studies in all outcomes. Prospective studies that control for a wide range of confounders are required.
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What OpenQuestion holds
Registered trials
Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.