Psychobiological Factors Affecting Cortisol Variability in Human-Dog Dyads

Area of Science:

• Psychoneuroendocrinology
• Human-Animal Interaction
• Social Psychology

Background:

• Dyadic interactions, including emotional support and conflict, modulate stress responses.
• Individual cortisol variability is a key indicator of psychobiological adaptation and coping efficiency.
• Understanding owner-dog dyadic dynamics is crucial for comprehending stress regulation.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate how dyadic psychobiological factors influence intra-individual cortisol variability in owners and their dogs.
• To identify owner and dog characteristics associated with adaptive stress responses within the dyad.
• To explore the role of owner personality, attachment, and social attitudes in shaping dyadic cortisol patterns.

Main Methods:

• 132 owner-dog dyads participated in a laboratory setting with various challenging situations.
• Salivary cortisol was measured to calculate individual cortisol variability (iCV).
• Questionnaires assessed owner and dog personality, owner-dog attachment, and owner social attitudes.

Main Results:

• Female owners of male dogs exhibited lower iCV compared to other combinations.
• Owner Agreeableness positively correlated with owner iCV.
• Dogs of owners high in Neuroticism, insecure-ambivalent attachment, or separation anxiety showed lower iCV.

Conclusions:

• Owner and dog social characteristics significantly influence dyadic cortisol variability.
• The owner's psychological and social profile appears more influential than the dog's.
• Results support systemic approaches in understanding dyadic stress regulation and informing scientific and counseling practices.