A research group led by Kenta Matsumura, a lecturer at the Faculty of Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, University of Toyama, used data from a national survey on children's health and the environment (Eco-Children's Survey) to investigate the relationship between the mental health of pregnant mothers and pets. While the breeding of cats has a positive effect, the results show that the breeding of cats has a negative effect.
According to the University of Toyama, the research group divided the 8 women who participated in the Eco-Children Survey into a group that owns dogs, a group that owns cats, a group that owns both dogs and cats, and a group that owns both. We analyzed the relationship between pet ownership during pregnancy and depressive symptoms and psychological distress during pregnancy and up to one year after childbirth.
The results showed that the dog-owning group had lower depressive symptoms 1 to 6 months after giving birth, and less psychological distress in the first year after giving birth, compared to those who did not own dogs or cats.In contrast, the cat-owning group had higher depressive symptoms six months after giving birth and psychological distress during pregnancy.Cohorts buying both dogs and cats had higher psychological distress during pregnancy.
The research group believes that while dog ownership may be a protective factor for maternal mental health, cat ownership may be a risk factor.Various studies have been conducted on the relationship between keeping dogs and cats and mental health, but there have been reports that there is not only a positive effect, but also that there is no effect or a bad effect.There is also controversy over whether dogs or cats have a positive effect on mental health.
