Pets help create healthy communities

Photo Credit: Alonso Nichols/Tufts University

Caring for an animal may have a positive effect on youth development and their community and social interactions, according to a paper published online last week in Applied Developmental Science. 

"Our findings suggest that it may not be whether an animal is present in an individual's life that is most significant but rather the quality of that relationship," said the paper's author, Megan Mueller, Ph.D., a developmental psychologist and research assistant professor at the Cummings School of Veterinary Medicine at Tufts University. "The young adults in the study who had strong attachment to pets reported feeling more connected to their communities and relationships." 

More than 500 participants aged 18-26 were surveyed with the results demonstrating that people who reported greater care for animals were also more likely to be involved in their communities and serve in leadership roles. Higher levels of attachment to an animal in late adolescence and young adulthood were also associated with feelings of connectivity, empathy and confidence.