SynthesisPloS one2019
The effects of interacting with fish in aquariums on human health and well-being: A systematic review.
Synthesis in PloS one, 2019. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 13 papers.
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
13 citing papers in PubMed.
- Trial
- 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
- Longitudinal relationships between pet ownership and cognitive functioning in later adulthood across pet types and individuals' ages.Scientific reports · 2025Article
- Unconventional Animal Species Participation in Animal-Assisted Interventions and Methods for Measuring Their Experienced Stress.Animals : an open access journal from MDPI · 2024Review
- Towards virtual reality exposure therapy for cocaine use disorder: A feasibility study of inducing cocaine craving through virtual reality.Addictive behaviors reports · 2024Article
- Cognitive mechanisms and neurological foundations of companion animals' role in enhancing human psychological well-being.Frontiers in psychology · 2024Review
- Altering Fish Behavior by Sensing Swarm Patterns of Fish in an Artificial Aquatic Environment Using an Interactive Robotic Fish.Sensors (Basel, Switzerland) · 2023Article
- Mobile Zoos and Other Itinerant Animal Handling Events: Current Status and Recommendations for Future Policies.Animals : an open access journal from MDPI · 2023Article
- Five ways to wellbeing at the zoo: improving human health and connection to nature.Frontiers in psychology · 2023Review
- The New Status Quo: Enhancing Access to Human-Animal Interactions to Alleviate Social Isolation & Loneliness in the Time of COVID-19.Animals : an open access journal from MDPI · 2021Article
- Companion Animal Type and Level of Engagement Matter: A Mixed-Methods Study Examining Links between Companion Animal Guardianship, Loneliness and Well-Being during the COVID-19 Pandemic.Animals : an open access journal from MDPI · 2021Article
- The State of Animal-Assisted Interventions: Addressing the Contemporary Issues that will Shape the Future.International journal of environmental research and public health · 2019Review
- Observing Live Fish Improves Perceptions of Mood, Relaxation and Anxiety, But Does Not Consistently Alter Heart Rate or Heart Rate Variability.International journal of environmental research and public health · 2019Article
Corrections and comments
PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.
Authors and funding
8 authors.
Funding
No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.
Abstract
backgroundMost research into the health benefits of human-animal interaction has focused on species that interact physically with humans, such as dogs. This may be unsuitable for certain populations for reasons including accessibility and the risk of negative consequences to both the person and the animal. However, some research has associated viewing fish in aquariums with positive well-being outcomes; as there is no physical contact with the animal, this form of interaction carries less risk. At present, little is known about the specific benefits of human-fish interaction.
objectivesTo explore current evidence relating to the psychological and physiological benefits of interacting with fish in aquariums.
methodsSystematic searches were conducted to identify relevant primary research of any design. All forms of interaction were considered, including keeping fish as companion animals and fish aquarium-based interventions. "Non-live" alternatives, such as videos, were also considered. This review was conducted according to a registered protocol (PROSPERO ID: CRD42018090466).
resultsNineteen studies were included. Two provided tentative evidence that keeping home aquaria is associated with relaxation. The remaining studies involved novel interactions with fish in home or public aquariums. Outcomes relating to anxiety, relaxation and/or physiological stress were commonly assessed; evidence was mixed with both positive and null findings. Preliminary support was found for effects on mood, pain, nutritional intake and body weight, but not loneliness. All studies had methodological issues and risk of bias was either high or unclear.
conclusionsReview findings suggest that interacting with fish in aquariums has the potential to benefit human well-being, although research on this topic is currently limited. Future research should aim to address gaps in the evidence, such as whether and how the type of human-fish interaction can influence well-being outcomes. Researchers should also aim to address the methodological concerns highlighted in this review.
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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.