Benefits of Human-Companion Animal Interaction Across Care Settings

Numerous studies have identified health benefits of interacting with companion animals. In particular, beneficial changes in blood pressure, autonomic skin reactivity, relaxation, and cortisol levels have been reported. Changes in society make a compelling need for the benefits derived from this human animal interaction (HAI), and signs of this need are widespread. Spending on pets in the US alone has doubled since 1994 to $38.4 billion annually. The growing number of television programs, books and publications devoted to pets and pet ownership indicates that people have a strong interest in and affinity toward HAI.

As the world, and subsequently healthcare have become more technologically driven, with greater mobility and explosive population growth among older adults (the baby boom generation is rapidly advancing to retirement age), the need has never been greater for people—whether healthy or ill--to experience the unconditional love, nurturing and joy of a responsive animal sharing real emotions. For older adults who cannot function independently, HAI may benefit feelings of self-esteem, motivation to remain engaged in life, and social encounters while providing physiological benefits as well.

Research in the HAI field grows steadily showing positive benefits of HAI for humans and animals, and animal visitation programs in schools, hospitals and nursing homes are becoming widely accepted. This review paper will present extant literature findings on the benefits of HAI and findings from two studies we conducted in widely different care settings in which HAI was helpful.