Scientists have learned about improving the mental health of teenagers thanks to dogs

Having a dog in the family brings a lot of benefits — playing with it helps the brain to focus and relax, to satisfy the primary need for care. Studies have shown that a pet affects the gut microbiome of teenagers, which helps to improve their mental and emotional state. This was reported by Popular Science magazine on December 3.

"Dog education has a beneficial effect, especially on adolescents, and this effect may be mediated by symbiosis with microorganisms," said Takefumi Kikusui, co—author of the study, an animal behavior specialist at Azabu University in Japan.

The gut microbiome, consisting of many bacteria and microorganisms, works in symbiosis with the body, helping to digest nutrients and support the immune system. It can also promote the production of important neurotransmitters in the brain and control potentially harmful microorganisms.

In the course of the study, scientists studied how having a dog can affect the mental health of teenagers. First, they found that having a dog in a person at the age of 13 could predict their future mental health and behavior indicators. Allegedly, teenagers with pets reported fewer social problems compared to those without a dog.

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After that, the specialists collected saliva samples from 247 teenagers without dogs and 96 teenagers with dogs. The results showed that teenagers with a dog in the house have a different microbiome. This, according to scientists, may be due to an improvement in their psycho-emotional performance.

To confirm the hypothesis, the scientists conducted experiments on mice, which were injected with microorganisms from the microbiome of teenagers with dogs. Rodents that received such a microbiome spent more time communicating with others, which confirms their more social behavior.

"The most interesting finding of this study is that bacteria promoting prosociality, or empathy, have been found in the microbiomes of teenagers who keep dogs. This means that the benefits of owning a dog include a sense of security through interaction, but I believe it is also valuable for its potential to change the symbiotic microbial community," Kikusui emphasized.

The researchers noted that further study of the topic is necessary to find out how other variables (such as poverty) can affect the diversity of the microbiome. However, the results already suggest that a pet dog can change the microbiome by supporting social behavior, empathy, and mental health in adolescents.

Earlier, on November 26, an article on the World Journal of Pediatrics portal revealed the ability of pets to influence children's mental health. According to the study, having pets can reduce anxiety, stress, and depression in children, as well as improve their social skills.

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