Effects of human-animal interaction on salivary and urinary oxytocin in children and dogs

Oxytocin pathways are hypothesized to play important roles in human-animal interactions and may contribute to some benefits of these interspecific social relationships. We explored the effects of naturalistic interactions between children and dogs on oxytocin release in both species, as well as asso...

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Published in:Psychoneuroendocrinology 2024-11, Vol.169, p.107147, Article 107147
Main Authors: Gnanadesikan, Gitanjali E., King, Katherine M., Carranza, Elizabeth, Flyer, Abigail C., Ossello, Gianna, Smith, Paige G., Steklis, Netzin G., Steklis, H. Dieter, Carter, C. Sue, Connelly, Jessica J., Barnett, Melissa, Gee, Nancy, Tecot, Stacey R., MacLean, Evan L.
Format: Article
Language:English
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Summary:Oxytocin pathways are hypothesized to play important roles in human-animal interactions and may contribute to some benefits of these interspecific social relationships. We explored the effects of naturalistic interactions between children and dogs on oxytocin release in both species, as well as associations between methylation of the oxytocin receptor gene (OXTRm), social behavior, and oxytocin response in this context. Children (N = 55) participated in a within-subjects design involving a) interaction with their pet dog, b) interaction with an unfamiliar dog, and c) a nonsocial control condition (solitary play). We used immunoassays to measure salivary and urinary oxytocin in both the children and dogs, behavioral coding to characterize dog-child interactions, and bisulfite sequencing to quantify methylation of the oxytocin receptor gene (N = 32 children). Child salivary oxytocin decreased moderately across time in all conditions, but the extent of this effect varied between conditions, with greater oxytocin output during interactions with dogs than the control condition. In the pet dog condition, children’s salivary oxytocin response was positively associated with the duration of visual co-orientation between the child and dog. Child urinary oxytocin did not deviate substantially from baseline in any condition. Children with higher levels of OXTRm had greater oxytocin output during interactions with their pet dogs, but lower oxytocin output in the control condition, and engaged in lower levels of affectionate interaction with dogs across conditions. Children’s pet dogs exhibited increases in salivary oxytocin, but we observed the opposite pattern in the unfamiliar dog, who exhibited decreases in both urinary and salivary oxytocin on average. Collectively, our results support the hypothesis that oxytocin pathways may shape and respond to social interactions between children and dogs, highlighting an important role for companion animals in child development. [Display omitted] •Oxytocin response in children was greater following dog interaction than nonsocial play.•Children’s oxytocin response was similar when interacting with pet or unfamiliar dogs.•Methylation of the oxytocin receptor gene (OXTRm) was associated with child behavior.•OXTRm was associated with the child’s oxytocin response to dog interaction.•Pet dogs exhibited increases in salivary oxytocin when interacting with children.
ISSN:0306-4530
1873-3360
1873-3360
DOI:10.1016/j.psyneuen.2024.107147