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Associations between the Psychological Characteristics of the Human-Dog Relationship and Oxytocin and Cortisol Levels
University of Skövde, School of Life Sciences. University of Skövde, The Systems Biology Research Centre. Department of Animal Environment and Health, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, Skara, Sweden.ORCID iD: 0000-0003-0987-8357
University of Skövde, School of Life Sciences. University of Skövde, The Systems Biology Research Centre. Department of Animal Environment and Health, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, Skara, Sweden.
University of Skövde, School of Life Sciences. University of Skövde, The Systems Biology Research Centre. (Infektionsbiologi, Infection Biology)ORCID iD: 0000-0002-3053-4543
Department of Anatomy, Physiology, and Biochemistry, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, Uppsala, Sweden.
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2012 (English)In: Anthrozoos, ISSN 0892-7936, E-ISSN 1753-0377, Vol. 25, no 2, p. 215-228Article in journal (Refereed) Published
Abstract [en]

The aim of the present study was to explore possible correlations between dog owners' relationships with their dogs, as measured with the Monash Dog Owner Relationship Scale (MDORS), and oxytocin and cortisol levels in both the owners and their dogs. Ten female owners of male Labrador Retrievers completed the MDORS. The scores obtained from the single items, subscales, and total score of the MDORS were calculated. Ten blood samples were collected from each dog owner and her dog during a 60-minute interaction. Blood samples were analyzed for oxytocin and cortisol by Enzyme Immuno Assay (EIA) and mean values of oxytocin and cortisol were calculated in both owners and dogs. The MDORS scores obtained were correlated with basal and mean oxytocin and cortisol levels. The correlation analysis revealed some relationships between the scores of items in the MDORS that reflect the character of the dog-owner-relationship and the owners' hormone levels. For example, higher oxytocin levels in the owners were associated with greater frequency in kissing their dogs (rs = 0.864, p = 0.001). Lower cortisol levels in the owners were associated with their perception that it will be more traumatic when their dog dies (rs = -0.730, p = 0.025). The correlation analysis also revealed some relationships between the scores of items in the MDORS and the dogs' hormone levels. For example, greater frequency in owners kissing their dogs was associated with higher oxytocin levels in the dogs (rs = 0.753, p = 0.029). Six items in the subscale Perceived Costs, as well as the subscale itself, correlated significantly with the dogs' oxytocin levels (rs = 0.820, p = 0.007), that is, the lower the perceived cost, the higher the dogs' oxytocin levels. In addition, significant correlations between the oxytocin levels of the owners and the dogs were demonstrated. Possible mechanisms behind these correlations are discussed. In conclusion, the scores of some items and the subscales of the MDORS correlated with oxytocin, and to a lesser extent cortisol, levels in both the owners and dogs.
Place, publisher, year, edition, pages
Taylor & Francis, 2012. Vol. 25, no 2, p. 215-228
Keywords [en]
cortisol, dog, dog owner, MDORS, oxytocin
National Category
Clinical Science Behavioral Sciences Biology Animal and Dairy Science Other Veterinary Science
Research subject
Natural sciences; Infection Biology
Identifiers
URN: urn:nbn:se:his:diva-5929DOI: 10.2752/175303712X13316289505468ISI: 000304287700007Scopus ID: 2-s2.0-84859540616OAI: oai:DiVA.org:his-5929DiVA, id: diva2:530954
Available from: 2012-06-05 Created: 2012-06-05 Last updated: 2025-02-21Bibliographically approved
In thesis
1. Human-Human and Human-Animal Interaction: Some Common Physiological and Psychological Effects
Open this publication in new window or tab >>Human-Human and Human-Animal Interaction: Some Common Physiological and Psychological Effects
2010 (English)Doctoral thesis, comprehensive summary (Other academic)
Abstract [en]

The aim of the present thesis was to investigate hormonal and physiological effects in mothers during a breastfeeding session and in dogs and their owners in response to short-term interaction. In study one, sixty-six mothers receiving either exogenous oxytocin infusion and/or epidural analgesia (EDA) during labor or intramuscular oxytocin injection post partum were studied. Oxytocin, prolactin, adrenocorticotrophic hormone (ACTH) and cortisol levels, as well as blood pressure were measured during a breastfeeding session two days after birth. In response to breastfeeding two days after birth, the mothers displayed a pulsatile release of oxytocin and increasing prolactin levels. In addition, the activity in the HPA-axis was reduced and maternal blood pressure decreased. The results also show that EDA administration in combination with oxytocin during labor resulted insignificantly lower oxytocin levels and higher cortisol levels, as well as higher bloodpressure in response to breastfeeding two days after birth, compared to EDA administration alone. In addition, oxytocin infusions dose-dependently lowered the mothers’ endogenous oxytocin levels two days after birth. In study two, ten female dog owners and their male Labrador dogs participated, together with ten controls. Their levels of oxytocin, cortisol and insulin, as well as their heart rate, were measured. The connection between the quality of the dogowner relationship and hormone levels was also explored. Short-term interaction between dogs and their owners resulted in oxytocin release in both species and their cortisol levels and heart rate were also affected. Oxytocin levels and positive attitudes regarding the dog-owner relationship were positively correlated. In conclusion, both human-human and human-animal interactions induce oxytocin release and promote oxytocin mediated effects, such as decreasing cortisol levels and blood pressure. In addition, social interaction and oxytocin levels arepositively related.
Place, publisher, year, edition, pages
Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, 2010. p. 88
Series
Acta Universitatis agriculturae Sueciae, ISSN 1652-6880 ; 2010:98
Keywords
oxytocin, cortisol, prolactin, ACTH, blood pressure, medical interventions, sensory stimulation, interaction
National Category
Clinical Science Behavioral Sciences Biology Animal and Dairy Science Other Veterinary Science Gynaecology, Obstetrics and Reproductive Medicine
Research subject
Natural sciences
Identifiers
urn:nbn:se:his:diva-5212 (URN)978-91-576-7543-9 (ISBN)
Public defence
2011-01-14, Hernqvistaulan, Skara, 13:00 (English)
Opponent
Supervisors
Available from: 2011-07-05 Created: 2011-07-05 Last updated: 2025-02-21Bibliographically approved

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Handlin, LindaNilsson, AnneEjdebäck, MikaelUvnäs-Moberg, Kerstin

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