Oxytocin Pathways and the Health Effects of Human-Animal Interaction

University of Arizona55 enrolled

Overview

This study investigates the roles of oxytocin pathways in human-animal interaction.

This study investigates the roles of oxytocin pathways in human-animal interaction. Children will participate in three conditions involving friendly interactions with dogs, or play with toys at a university laboratory. Child and dog saliva and urine will be assayed for oxytocin concentrations. We will assess variation in oxytocin concentrations in relation to different experimental conditions, and in relation to specific behaviors and psychological constructs.

Study Type

INTERVENTIONAL

Allocation

NON_RANDOMIZED

Purpose

BASIC_SCIENCE

Masking

SINGLE

Enrollment

Conditions

Human-Animal Bond Human-Animal Interaction

Interventions

Pet dogBEHAVIORAL

Children will interact freely with their pet dog for 25 minutes.

Unfamiliar dogBEHAVIORAL

Children will interact freely with an unfamiliar dog for 25 minutes

Nonsocial controlBEHAVIORAL

Children will play with age-appropriate toys/games for 25 minutes.

Eligibility

Sex: ALLMin age: 8 YearsMax age: 10 YearsHealthy volunteers:

Medical Language ↔ Plain English

Inclusion Criteria: * Participants in this study will include typically-developing children between 8-10 years who have lived with a companion dog in the household for at least 6 months. Exclusion Criteria: * known medical diseases or injuries involving the central nervous or endocrine systems, major physical abnormalities, seizures, and significant sensory, cognitive, or motor impairments, current use of psychoactive medications

Locations (1)

University of Arizona

Tucson, Arizona, United States

Outcomes

Primary Outcomes

Salivary Oxytocin, Area Under the Curve

Change from baseline measured as the area under the curve with respect to the initial value (AUCi).

Time frame: baseline, 15 minutes

Urinary Oxytocin, Area Under the Curve

Change from baseline measured as the area under the curve with respect to the initial value (AUCi).

Time frame: baseline, 50 minutes

Secondary Outcomes

Salivary Cortisol, Area Under the Curve

Change from baseline measured as the area under the curve with respect to the initial value (AUCi).

Time frame: baseline, 50 minutes

Urinary Vasopressin, Area Under the Curve

Change from baseline measured as the area under the curve with respect to the initial value (AUCi).

Time frame: baseline, 50 minutes

Data from ClinicalTrials.gov

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