Study Suggests Owning a Dog Can Improve Teen Mental Health
Many families have long had a sense that growing up with a dog offers more than simple companionship, and new research adds weight to that belief. A study published in iScience suggests that adolescents who live with dogs show noticeable gains in emotional well-being and social behavior. The researchers even highlight a surprising angle in their findings: regular contact with a pet may influence the human microbiome, the network of microorganisms that helps shape how the body responds to stress, connection, and daily life.
A Closer Look At The Study
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The work, led by Takefumi Kikusui of Azabu University in Japan, builds on earlier findings showing that children who grow up with dogs often report stronger emotional support and social connectedness. For this study, the research team followed adolescents from the age of 13 to examine whether dog ownership predicted later behavioral outcomes and whether differences in the microbiome might help explain these patterns.
From the initial assessments, teens with a dog at home scored better on measures of mental health and showed fewer social difficulties compared with non–dog owners. To understand whether biology played a role, the researchers analyzed saliva samples from 343 adolescents.
While overall microbial diversity was similar among all participants, the microbiome composition differed noticeably between the two groups, with certain bacterial strains more common in dog-owning teens.
From Microbes To Behavior
To test whether these microbial differences might influence social behavior, the team transferred microbiota from the teens to laboratory mice.
Mice that received the microbiota of dog-owning adolescents showed increased social curiosity and stronger motivation to approach and assist other mice. This prosocial behavioral shift supports the idea that microbial communities may shape aspects of emotional and social functioning.
Kikusui notes that some of the bacteria tied to these shifts are also connected to behaviors linked with empathy. The results fit into a broader body of research showing that the gut and the brain communicate in ways that can shape mood, stress levels, and how people relate to others.
What This Means For Teens
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The researchers emphasize that the benefits of dog ownership likely stem from more than one source. This can include daily interaction, emotional companionship, routine physical activity, and biological factors. The microbiome connection adds a new layer, suggesting that living with dogs may gradually shift a teen’s microbial environment in ways that support healthier social and emotional development.
At the same time, the authors note that dog ownership isn’t a requirement for achieving these benefits. Diverse and balanced microbiomes can be supported through a balanced diet, regular outdoor activity, and healthy lifestyle habits.
They also acknowledge that owning a dog can be stressful for some families, particularly when pets have behavioral challenges.
A relationship shaped over thousands of years
What the study reinforces is the depth of the bond between humans and dogs. This relationship appears to influence much more than companionship alone. After thousands of years living alongside one another, our bodies may be more intertwined with our dogs than previously understood.
As research continues, scientists hope to better identify which microbes are involved, how they exert their influence, and whether similar effects are found with other companion animals. For now, the study provides promising evidence that a family dog can play a meaningful role in supporting a teenager’s mental health, both emotionally and biologically.