Rebecca Purewal|Robert Christley|Katarzyna Kordas|Carol Joinson|Kerstin Meints|Nancy R. Gee|Carri Westgarth
Companion Animals and Child/Adolescent Development: A Systematic Review of the Evidence
University of Liverpool|University of Liverpool|University at Buffalo, State University of New York|University of Bristol|University of Bristol|University of Lincoln|SUNY Fredonia|University of Liverpool
childhood adolescence important developmental phases influence health wellbeing across life span social relationships fundamental child adolescent development yet studies limited childrens relationships humans paper provides evidence review potential associations pet ownership emotional behavioural cognitive educational social developmental outcomes field early stages broad set inclusion criteria applied systematic search databases grey literature sources found twentytwo studies meeting selection criteria review found evidence association pet ownership wide range emotional health benefits childhood pet ownership particularly selfesteem loneliness findings regarding childhood anxiety depression inconclusive studies also showed evidence association pet ownership educational cognitive benefits example perspectivetaking abilities intellectual development evidence behavioural development unclear due lack high quality research studies pet ownership social development provided evidence association increased social competence social networks social interaction social play behaviour overall pet ownership significance childrens bonds companion animals underexplored shortage high quality longitudinal studies outcomes prospective studies control wide range confounders required