Health Benefits of Animals relating to oxytocin
The relationship of health, happiness, and human-animal interaction can be scientifically concluded. Recently, “studies have been focusing on the fact that interacting with animals can increase people’s level of the hormone oxytocin… Oxytocin helps us to feel happy and trusting” (Rovner). Oxytocin is a chemical that stimulates the contractions of the uterine muscle and the secretion of milk. This chemical, however, has other benefits to the overall mood and health of a person. Oxytocin has powerful effects for people which include being in a state of readiness to heal, and also to grow new cells (Rovner). This chemical, although mainly functions in contractions of the uterine muscle and the secretion of milk, can help with healing and growing. Scientists, Landgraf, Newman, and Ross have described oxytocin as, “a peptide hormone produced in the hypothalamus and released into the circulatory system and the brain in response to sensory stimulation via a network containing of OT-containing cells nerves” (Beetz et al.). Especially during breastfeeding, sex, and labor but also from touch, warmth, and stroking, usually in the context of trusting relationships, there is a secretion of oxytocin (Beetz et al.). Modulated by oxytocin, many physiological, psychological, and behavior related functions have been shown via experimental administration of oxytocin in animals and humans (Beetz et al.). Oxytocin can play a role in the interaction between humans and animals which has been further understood through experiments.
Social interaction is one of the many fields in which oxytocin effects. Rises in the hormone oxytocin can lead to increased eye contact, empathy, trust, social skills, face memory, generosity, and positive self-perception (Beetz et al.). Also, oxytocin promotes a decrease in overall depression and aggression (Beetz et al.). This stimulating hormone also proved to promote mental health care behavior, bonding to offspring, pair bonding, and improves learning by conditioning (Beetz et al.).
Greater oxytocin levels can lead to an anti-stress lifestyle without any therapy. Although many people think that stress can only be conquered by a slower pace of activity or therapy, new studies have found that animals just may be the stress-relieving companion that ceased to be recognized in the medical world. Studies examining oxytocin and stress found that, “Oxytocin decreases glucocorticoid (stress hormone) levels in humans and non-human animals in a particular response to social stressors. When administered intracerebroventricularly, oxytocin decreases blood pressure for several hours as well as heart rate, and increases peripheral cutaneous circulation and skin temperature” (Beetz et al.). When stress is one of the most prominent reasons for depression and medical issues, animals could be a revolutionary medical tool in providing relief to these effects.
Oxytocin has been further studied when relating to anxiety, pain, and immune system. Researchers have found that, “Oxytocin increases pain thresholds and has an anti-inflammatory effect in rats. It also has an anxiolytic effect in particular in relation to social threats” (Beetz et al.). Coping with anxiety and pain can take a toll on the human body and mind. Animals are able to level these issues by their touch and warmth. Not only are animals a proactive way to curb anxiety, pain, and immune system issues, but also an inexpensive way. Having a positive relationship with a pet is much less costly than therapy sessions or special medication. Ultimately, across the world, pets could be the neutralizing factor to tame stress, anxiety, and other health issues.
Oxytocin also provides positive effects on health and restoration. Widstrom and Uvnas-Moberg have found that, “Oxytocin is associated with increases in the function of the parasympathetic nervous system controlling the endocrine system of the gastrointestinal tract, which is linked to an enhanced digestive function and growth and restoration” (Beetz et al.). Consequently, these oxytocin mediated effects shows that there is a major overlap of effects of human animal interaction and oxytocin and the studies on this relationship shows that indeed human animal interaction may activate the oxytocin system in humans (Beetz et al.)
The effects of human animal interaction on oxytocin levels have shown to be significant. Odendaal and Meintjes, “documented a significant increase of plasma oxytocin, as well as prolactin, phenylacetic acid, and dopamine, in both, humans and dogs after 5 to 24 minutes of stroking a dog” (Beetz et al.). Interacting with a dog that the individual had familiarity with had a stronger effect that not. This effect pointed out that the increase in oxytocin depends on the quality of the relationship. The closer the relationship, the more oxytocin is released (Beetz et al.). Petting a dog had an effect on the chemicals released within the human. Another study conducted by Nagasawa in 2009, scientists employed urinary oxytocin and assessed the interactions between human and animal mainly focusing on the length of the gazes between the two. For 30 minutes owners could not look at the dogs. People with a stronger attachment to the dog were correlated with the longer gazes and vice versa. Longer gaze was linked to higher oxytocin levels in the owner. (Beetz et al.).
The levels of oxytocin can increase due to human animal interaction. The effects of oxytocin may be triggered by single visits with pets but more potent and long lasting effects can be linked with stable relationships between humans and pets (Beetz et al.). Even the mere bond between humans and animals may trigger oxytocin release. Despite some research concluding that the, “unconditional love and acceptance which animals provide to clients of animal-assisted interventions and their owners and the social catalyst effect might be initially based on biophilia rather than the activation of the oxytocin system,” there is more information concluding to the former (Beetz et al.).