Evaluating the Human-Animal Bond: A Focus on Mental Health, Clinical Interventions and Psychological Wellbeing

Editors request that authors submit a summary abstract in advance to ensure alignment with the Research Topic’s scope before preparing a full manuscript.

Human-animal interactions are a rapidly evolving area in clinical and wider psychological research, offering promising directions for stress reduction and treatment of mental disorders, trauma and other clinical conditions. This Research Topic explores the breadth of human-animal connections, from basic human-animal exchanges to animal-assisted interventions (AAIs) and animal therapy, as well as the varied roles of service and assistance animals in diverse environments. Far beyond traditional therapy animals such as dogs, contemporary research is also expanding to consider the unique benefits of species, including horses, guinea pigs and donkeys, in therapeutic settings.

Recent work highlights the clinical applications of animal interaction and interventions across contexts, e.g. mental health charities, educational environments, and dedicated therapy programs. AAIs in school settings have shown measurable benefits on children’s concentration and focus, supporting learning for students with ADHD and other challenges. Animal therapy is also associated with meaningful reductions in depression and anxiety symptoms, while fostering emotional bonding, increasing feelings of calm, and supporting an environment conducive to psychological recovery.

Emerging research focuses on the underlying mechanisms of these benefits, exploring physiological and psychological processes. Research has documented lowered blood pressure, reduced cortisol and autonomic markers of stress, and hormonal changes such as increased oxytocin during human-animal interactions. Studies have demonstrated a slight rise in oxytocin levels in individuals riding horses, particularly when riders were completely calm, suggesting that the emotional state of the person is fundamental to these physiological shifts. This adds to our understanding of how creating calm and safe settings with animals can retrain attentional focus, support the healing process, and promote psychological well-being in both clinical and diverse settings.

Recent research suggests that the positive effects of human-animal interaction are mediated by oxytocin, released in response to the interaction. Oxytocin release is stimulated by eye gaze, specific pheromones, and subtle tactile stimulation, all of which may occur during human-animal interaction. Oxytocin integration can promote social interaction, reduce stress and foster recovery. The observed effects and outcomes of oxytocin release can vary, depending on factors such as social competence, age, health status, and current stress levels.

Human-animal interventions provide secondary benefits, such as offering a sense of security, reducing anxiety, worry, and increasing pain tolerance. Service and assistance animals can extend these effects, integrating into daily life to support independence and mental health in those with physical or psychological conditions.

This Research Topic welcomes research that explores, but not limited to:
• Insights into the human-animal bond, the integrative role of oxytocin, and other psychological mechanisms at play.
• Explorations into both primary clinical effects (e.g., symptom reduction in trauma and depression, behavioral change, healing capacity) and secondary benefits (e.g., increased sense of calm, improved pain tolerance) of human-animal interactions.
• Clinical impacts of human-animal interactions in varied settings (including clinical psychology settings, schools, equine therapy sessions, mental health charities).
• The design, implementation, and evaluation of animal-assisted interventions and animal therapy e.g. equine therapy, hospital settings, counselling
• Explorations of the therapeutic roles of animals in human interactions, for example, specialist trained service animals, therapy animals, companion/pet and emotional-support animals in supporting psychological (e.g. stress buffering), and physiological well-being (e.g. disease, pain and healing management)
• Interventions aimed at specific populations, such as the use of AAIs to support focus and learning in children with ADHD; as adjuncts to care for individuals experiencing depression and/or anxiety; visiting assisted living centers.
• Clinical therapeutic interventions involving typical and non-typical species and their treatment efficacy and applications.
• Technological advances for assessing physiological and psychological responses during interactions, such as biomarker analysis, neuropsychological metrics, and wearable monitoring tools.
• Innovations in clinical protocols and outcome measurement for integrating AAIs and broader human-animal interventions into structured mental health care.

By examining the clinical bases of human-animal interaction across species and contexts, this topic aims to advance further toward evidence-based, scientifically validated integration in psychology and clinical practice. Submissions that deepen the understanding of the therapeutic human-animal bond are welcome, with support for effective, compassionate intervention strategies that are grounded in rigorous research.


Topic Editor Lena Lidfors is the founder and CEO of LL Etologi Konsult. The other Topic Editors declare no competing interests with regard to the Research Topic subject.