Pet-loving children less likely to display animal cruelty, research finds

Children who form an attachment to a pet are less likely to be cruel to animals, according to a study.

A research project by animal welfare charity the Scottish SPCA and the University of Edinburgh also found pet ownership can produce a range of health benefits for children.

These include lower risk of depression, less psychological and physical distress and reduced loneliness.

Animals can also benefit from their relationship with a child, the study team found.

The project examined the associations between childhood attachment to pets and youngsters' caring and friendship behaviour, compassion and attitudes towards animals.

Their analysis of more than 1,000 seven to 12 year-olds in Scotland found the majority of children are strongly attached to their pets, but their levels of attachment differed depending on the type of pet and the gender of the child.

Girls proved to be more attached to their pets, compared with boys, and children reported higher levels of attachment to dogs and cats compared with other animals.

The study paper noted: "Furthermore, we found that attachment to pets significantly predicted positive attitudes to animals and from previous research we know that attitudes are associated with empathy, pro-social and humane treatment of animals, greater concern for animal welfare and less cruelty.''

The paper went on: "There is also growing evidence that pet ownership and attachment to pets have a range of positive psychological, emotional and physiological health outcomes for children and adults.

"These include: lower risk of depression, better quality of life, a greater sense of well-being, reduced psychological and physical distress and reduced loneliness. For example, attachment to dogs and cats is associated with higher quality of life among adolescents.

"Other positive outcomes include extended social networks and increased happiness, security and self-worth.

"These results may explain why animal-assisted interventions are increasingly demonstrating potential success as alternative therapies.

"The psychological benefits of attachment to pets have been found for a variety of pet animals, particularly dogs and cats, possibly relating to the caring activities required by pet dogs and cats.''

The findings have been published in the International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health.

Study team member Roxanne Hawkins, a PhD student in clinical and health psychology at the University of Edinburgh, said: "This research focused on the emotional and friendship aspects of childhood attachment to pets and showed that children viewed their pets as their best friend, reporting that they would be lonely without them and that they felt that their pet knew when they were upset and tried to comfort them.''

Gilly Mendes Ferreira, head of education and policy at the Scottish SPCA, said: "We actively encourage and promote positive pet care behaviour through our ground-breaking free education programme in Scottish primary schools which last year spoke to around 300,000 animals.

"Our interactive programme encourages children to think about what animals need and they learn how they can be responsible towards animals they come across including their pets.'

• sspca