Are pets good for kids’ mental health? Type of animal and duration of bond could make all the difference

By Llúcia González Safont, Investigadora del Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red en Epidemiología y Salud Pública (CIBERESP) y miembro de la Unidad Mixta de Investigación en Epidemiología, Ambiente y Salud FISABIO-Universitat Jaume I -Universitat de València, Fisabio
Blanca Sarzo Carles, Investigador postdoctoral. Bioestadística, Fisabio
Marisa Estarlich Estarlich, Profesora contratada doctor, Universitat de València

Questions like “will getting a pet benefit our child’s mental health?” are increasingly common and pertinent. In Spain, for instance, more than half of all households now have one or more pets.

Attachment is the name for the emotional bond between a developing child and the caregiver who provides them with security and comfort. This kind of bond can also, to a certain extent, also be formed with…

Read complete article

~	What ‘If I had Legs I’d Kick You’ tells us about mothering and thankless sacrifice

~	Your morning coffee might protect your brain as you age – here’s the sweet spot

~	When it comes to homelessness, what we call ‘compassion fatigue’ is something else entirely

~	Keir Starmer on the ropes as Scottish party leader calls for his resignation

~	Japan’s ruling party secures historic election victory – but challenges lie ahead

~	What a Renaissance plate reveals about a woman who shaped literary history

~	How scientists and artists can collaborate to cut through ‘ecofatigue’ and inspire positive action

~	Autistic people seem to feel joy differently – here’s what it can tell us about neurodivergence

~	Bridgerton: three true tales of love at first sight at Regency masquerade balls

~	Which countries are best-placed to see off state-supported cyber-attacks? A government advisor explains