Companion animals and child development outcomes: longitudinal and cross-sectional analysis of a UK birth cohort study.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Research into the impact of social relationships on childhood and adolescent health and wellbeing has been largely limited to children's relationships with other humans, while studies into the impact of pet ownership are sparse and have generally not adjusted for potential confounders. This study aimed to investigate the association between pet ownership and a range of developmental outcomes in childhood and adolescence.

Methods

Data were self-reports and direct assessments of approx. 14,000 children from the Avon Longitudinal Study of Parents and Children (ALSPAC). Multivariable regression models adjusting for confounding factors examined associations between developmental outcome measures (emotional health, behavioural development, cognitive development, languag

SUBMITTER: Purewal R 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC11395694 | biostudies-literature | 2024 Sep

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature