What To Know
- Understanding the stress connectionLina Roth and her team conducted an intriguing study, published in Scientific Reports, exploring the synchronization of stress between dogs and their owners.
- Synchronization of stress levelsA study featured in Scientific Reports reveals that long-term stress levels synchronize between dogs and their owners, especially among competition dogs due to stronger bonds formed during training compared to household pets.
- Lina Roth notes, “This is the first time we’ve observed long-term synchronization of stress levels between members of two different species,” underscoring the groundbreaking nature of these findings at Linköping University in Sweden.
Could your dog be mirroring your stress levels? Recent research from Sweden’s Linköping University suggests a compelling connection between human stress and their canine companions.
understanding the stress connection
Lina Roth and her team conducted an intriguing study, published in Scientific Reports, exploring the synchronization of stress between dogs and their owners. They discovered that long-term stress levels are synchronized between competition dogs and their owners, using cortisol as a key indicator.
This research sheds light on how stress might transfer across species and its implications for the bond you share with your pet. If you’re feeling guilty about stressing out your furry friend, don’t worry. Roth emphasizes that while dogs may unintentionally pick up on their owner’s stress signals, staying with them remains most beneficial.
the contagion of stress
Stress is notoriously contagious. A six-month study by researchers Shihan Li, David Krackhardt, and Nynke M. D. Niezink published in the Journal of Personality and Social Psychology found that stress spreads when it becomes too apparent in an individual.
- An earlier study in Nature highlighted this phenomenon in mice, showing that stressed individuals’ neurons release chemical alarms to partners.
- The ability to manage this transmission can be enhanced through self-control and composure.
cross-species transmission of anxiety
The idea of transmitting anxiety to pets is not just theoretical. The Nature study also revealed that female mice were better at managing received stress signals compared to male mice. This unexpected role of CRH neurons could potentially apply to humans as well.
The question arises: can stress be passed from human to animal? According to researchers, yes—it particularly manifests between a dog and its owner.
synchronization of stress levels
A study featured in Scientific Reports reveals that long-term stress levels synchronize between dogs and their owners, especially among competition dogs due to stronger bonds formed during training compared to household pets.
- The Swedish research involved 25 Border Collies and 33 Shetland Sheepdogs alongside their respective owners.
- Cortisol levels were measured from human hair samples and dog fur samples for analysis.
Lina Roth notes, “This is the first time we’ve observed long-term synchronization of stress levels between members of two different species,” underscoring the groundbreaking nature of these findings at Linköping University in Sweden.
