Dogs and the effects on mental health: science explains the benefits for the human mind

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You know that kind of general knowledge that everyone already has? Here’s one more: Having a dog is good! Interacting with dogs provides well-being to the tutor in several ways. Hormones like oxytocin, serotonin and cortisol They are released when people who love pets share their daily lives with their pets. Research carried out by the University of Konkuk, in South Korea, and published by the scientific journal Plos One reinforces this thesis.

About study

The study proved that interaction with dogs has anti-stress effect for humans. This contact increases brain activity in areas associated with well-being and focus.

30 adults participated in the initiative, with an average age of 28 years old. Participants performed eight different activities with a dog for three minutes each. Meetings, games, food, massage, hygiene, photography, hugs and walks were held. Brain waves in the prefrontal, frontal, parietal and occipital lobes were measured during the activities.

The dog chosen to live with the research group was a four-year-old female of the standard poodle breed. The dog was vaccinated, dewormed, trained and sociable during the study. A trainer accompanied the activity.

Research steps – Plos One

Electrodes were placed on the participants’ scalp to provide an accurate and immediate reading of the brain’s electrical activity during the actions.

Activities such as feeding, massaging and hugging the dog reduced the total mood disorder score, which indicated a positive effect on the participants, who showed a reduction in stress in all actions carried out with the dog.

Furthermore, the study demonstrated that practices such as walking or massaging your pet can activate greater relaxation, emotional stability, attention, concentration and creativity, facilitating increased brain activity.

Benefits

According to clinical psychologist Rhayssa Cavalcanti de Barros Felipe, senior advisor at the Pernambuco Regional Psychology Council (CRP-PE), the bond created between guardian and animal creates a care routine that benefits breeders.

“Having an animal changes a person’s routine, and this routine will be linked to all of the owner’s habits. So, having an animal will probably make you leave the house to walk it, especially in the case of dogs. It will also make you exercise, make you have this routine regarding the animal’s nutrition, the animal’s needs, and this can all regulate the owner’s emotions”, explained the psychologist.

Task in the routine

Tareco, Werik and Sarah – Paullo Allmeida / Folha de Pernambuco

In the daily lives of healthcare professional Sarah Jordão and her partner, public servant Werik de Lima, the household routine is mixed with the routine of Tareco, the couple’s dog. The pet was adopted in 2021, during the Covid-19 pandemic. And, while Sarah spent the day fighting the disease in hospitals in Pernambuco, Werik faced the home office routine accompanied by Tareco.

“I think it helped me have a routine during the pandemic. When working remotely, there was no time to start working, finish work, sleep, wake up… Tareco helped me return to my routine, waking up at a certain time, drinking coffee properly, walking with him and working”, explained Werik.

“New life”

For Sarah, Tareco represents, to this day, a moment of respite in a tiring day at work. “He is the joy of coming home and playing with him a little or going out. Even on days when we’re not in the mood, we go down and walk with Tareco, it refreshes us. We took him to the beach, let him play. You may not even be very well that day, but seeing him playing and everything while you also get some sun, a wind in your face, makes your life feel renewed,” she said.

This “renewal of life” that Sarah commented is also due to the release of hormones that interacting with dogs provides.

“These hormones can be released via stimuli. When there is, for example, a stimulus such as physical exercise – running, weight training, sexual intercourse -, a hug, receiving a compliment, eating a food we like or doing something that gives us pleasure. There is still no exact explanation for how these mechanisms act on hormonal balance, however it is widely known that minimizing and/or managing stress, having adequate sleep hygiene, practicing physical exercise regularly, eating healthily and developing healthy relationships they contribute positively to our physical and mental health, also balancing the endocrinological system”, explained psychiatrist Milena França, advisor to the Regional Council of Medicine of Pernambuco (Cremepe).

Despite being proven to be beneficial for a person’s well-being, having a dog is a decision that requires responsibility. A pet is not a “lifeline”, and mental disorders need to be treated by health professionals, not placed on an animal’s bill.

“A depressed, anxious person or person with another mental disorder without adequate treatment can harm the pet, in the sense of neglect, mistreatment, failure to meet the pet’s medical needs, the financial costs linked to care or even the fact of having a residence that is unsuitable for raising animals”, identifies psychiatrist Milena França.

Family bond

Ananda Maciel, journalism student, has lived with a dog since he was eight years old. As she was an only child, her relationship with Théo, her first dog, became stronger as a family bond. The Maltese, who passed away in December 2023, was as much a part of the family as any member. The responsibility was so great that Théo was given a wake for the family to deal with their grief. To this day, the pet’s ashes remain in an urn, kept with care by the members of the house.

“They are as close to us as any family member, our love for them comes a lot from companionship. Théo, for example, last year, already very weak, noticed that I was crying in the room and started licking me. It’s as if he wanted to provide emotional comfort. Furthermore, he was included in the entire dynamics of the house and had a specific relationship with each member. Therefore, for us, it was a natural move to try to hold a ceremony to say goodbye to Théo”, explained Ananda.

Ananda and his parents Bernardo and Nívea included Olaf in the family while remembering Théo with affection – Ricardo Fernandes / Folha de Pernambuco

A month ago, Ananda and his family added another member to the family: Olaf. The little shih-tzu is still adapting to the environment, but he has already decided who he likes to stay with the most (Ananda), he listens to conversations, looks for a lap and communicates with small barks.

Ananda and his dog, Olaf – Ricardo Fernandes / Folha de Pernambuco

According to Ana Paula Tenório, director of the Department of Veterinary Medicine at the Federal Rural University of Pernambuco (UFRPE), dogs are able to understand different moments of their owners due to the adaptation they have with humanity.

“The benefit of the relationship between dog and human is because the dog is an extremely domesticated animal. The dog and the human can talk. Not necessarily a conversation with human language, but there is an understanding between the two species,” he explained.