Plenty of children ask their parents for a pet. And now it might be harder for parents to refuse their requests, as a new study shows that young adults who care for an animal have stronger social relationships. American scientists also found that looking after a pet might also help teenagers develop better social skills.
Animals can have positive effects on children, but little is known about the benefits that caring for animals every day can bring to young people. "The young teenagers in the study who cared for pets felt more connected to other people," said Dr. Megan Mueller, a professor at the Cummings School of Veterinary Medicine at Tufts University, Massachusetts.
Dr. Mueller surveyed more than 500 young people aged between 18 and 26 about their attitudes towards animals. Their responses were used to measure their positive youth development characteristics (特征) such as caring, confidence and connection, as well as feelings of depression. The study found that young adults who cared for animals helped their friends or family more and showed stronger leadership qualities than those who did not look after a pet. The more actively they took part in the pet's care, the higher they scored on their sociable deeds.
"We can't draw causal links with this study, but it is a good starting point to better understand the role of animals in our lives, especially when we are young," said Dr. Mueller. To further develop the research, scientists need to look at how specific features of human experiences are connected with animal experiences, as well as how these relationships develop over time, and look at a larger number of people.
