NCT03852264

Oxytocin Pathways and the Health Effects of Human-Animal Interaction

• Status: Completed
• Phase: N/A
• Study type: Interventional
• Enrollment: 55 (actual)
• Sponsor: University of Arizona · Academic / Other
• Sex: All
• Age: 8 Years – 10 Years
• Healthy volunteers: Accepted

Summary

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

Detailed description

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.

Conditions

• Human-Animal Bond
• Human-Animal Interaction

Interventions

Type	Name	Description
BEHAVIORAL	Pet dog	Children will interact freely with their pet dog for 25 minutes.
BEHAVIORAL	Unfamiliar dog	Children will interact freely with an unfamiliar dog for 25 minutes
BEHAVIORAL	Nonsocial control	Children will play with age-appropriate toys/games for 25 minutes.

Timeline

• Start date: 2019-03-08
• Primary completion: 2022-01-10
• Completion: 2022-01-10
• First posted: 2019-02-25
• Last updated: 2024-11-12
• Results posted: 2024-11-12

Locations

1 site across 1 country: United States