Urinary oxytocin levels in children meeting a Hospital Dog®
A Risberg1, A Larsson2, U Bodén3
1Department of Health, Education and Technology, Lulea University of Technology, Lulea, S-971 87, Sweden. anitha.risberg@ltu.se.
Insights
Hospitalized children experienced decreased oxytocin levels after interacting with a certified Hospital Dog®. This finding suggests a potential physiological response to the engaging animal-assisted therapy (AAT) session.
Area of Science:
- Pediatric Health
- Animal-Assisted Interventions
- Neuropeptide Research
Background:
- Animal-assisted therapy (AAT) is increasingly recognized for its health benefits in adults, often linked to oxytocin level changes.
- Oxytocin, a neuropeptide, plays a role in social bonding and stress reduction.
Purpose of the Study:
- To examine the impact of interacting with a certified Hospital Dog® on oxytocin levels in hospitalized children.
- To investigate potential physiological changes associated with animal-assisted therapy in a pediatric population.
Main Methods:
- Urine samples were collected from 35 hospitalized children (ages 3-17) before and after sessions with a Hospital Dog®.
- Oxytocin levels were quantified using an acetylcholinesterase (AChE) competitive enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA).
- Creatinine levels were measured to normalize oxytocin concentrations for fluid intake.
Main Results:
- A statistically significant decrease in urinary oxytocin (uOT) levels was observed after the dog interaction sessions (p=0.010).
- Mean uOT levels dropped from 186.0 ± 236.7 pg/ml pre-session to 137.3 ± 121.5 pg/ml post-session.
Conclusions:
- Hospitalized children showed reduced oxytocin levels following interactions with a Hospital Dog®.
- The decrease in oxytocin may be attributed to the high level of engagement and activity experienced during the therapy session.
Abstract:
There has been growing interest in animal-assisted therapy (AAT) in recent decades due to increasing reports indicating its health benefits for adult patients. These benefits are partly attributed to changes, usually increased levels of the neuropeptide oxytocin. AIM: To investigate changes in oxytocin levels in hospitalized children meeting a certified Hospital Dog®.
Method:
Urine samples were collected between 25/02/2016 and 24/05/2017 from 35 hospitalized children (3-17 years) before and after each participant had a session with the Hospital Dog®. Oxytocin levels were analysed with an acetylcholinesterase (AChE) competitive enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). Creatinine levels were measured to determine the subject's fluid intake and then divided by the hormonal concentration (uOT pg/ml).
Results:
The mean level of uOT was 186.0 ± 236.7 (51.5-1349.5) pg/ml before and 137.3 ± 121.5 (30.7-591.3) pg/ml after the dog session (p = 0.010).
Conclusion:
Decreased levels of uOT were recorded during the study in which hospitalized children met a Hospital Dog®. The decreased OT levels are potentially the result of the intense activity the subject experienced with the dog during the interaction.
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