Human-animal interaction and human prosociality: A meta-analytic review of experimental and correlational studies

Author

Nicole Ruiying CHEN, Singapore Management UniversityFollow
Nadyanna M. MAJEED, National University of Singapore
Gloria J. LAI, Singapore Management UniversityFollow
Paye Shin KOH, Singapore Management UniversityFollow
MANMEET KAUR, Singapore Management UniversityFollow
K. T. A Sandeeshwara KASTURIRATNA, Singapore Management UniversityFollow
Zhi Yan Alycia HO, Singapore Management UniversityFollow
Jose C. YONG, Northumbria University
Andree HARTANTO, Singapore Management UniversityFollow

Publication Type

Journal Article

Version

acceptedVersion

Publication Date

12-2023

Abstract

Pet ownership and interactions with animals confer various physiological and psychological benefits to humans. Although interactions with animals are commonplace, there is no consensus in the literature on the actual impact of animal exposure on prosociality. Hence, this meta-analysis investigated 20 eligible studies (n = 4,116, k = 48) and provided an extensive examination into the different potential moderators of the relationship between human–animal interaction (HAI) and prosociality, such as the distinction between empathy and prosocial behavior, HAI characteristics, and sample characteristics. Overall, a small positive effect size was found (d = 0.22), suggesting that human exposure to animals is associated with an increase in empathy and prosocial behaviors. Additionally, the type of prosociality measure, nature of human–animal interaction, animal species, and animal class significantly moderated the relationship between human–animal interaction and prosociality. We discuss the theoretical, methodological, and practical implications of these findings and highlight areas for further research.

Keywords

Animal-assisted therapy, empathy, human-animal interaction, pet ownership, prosocial

Discipline

Animal Studies | Social Psychology | Social Psychology and Interaction

Research Areas

Psychology

Publication

Anthrozoös

First Page

1

Last Page

20

ISSN

0892-7936

Identifier

10.1080/08927936.2023.2288745

Publisher

Routledge

Citation

CHEN, Nicole Ruiying, MAJEED, Nadyanna M., LAI, Gloria J., KOH, Paye Shin, MANMEET KAUR, , KASTURIRATNA, K. T. A Sandeeshwara, HO, Zhi Yan Alycia, YONG, Jose C., & Andree HARTANTO, .(2023). Human-animal interaction and human prosociality: A meta-analytic review of experimental and correlational studies. Anthrozoös, , 1-20.

Available at: https://ink.library.smu.edu.sg/soss_research/3891

Copyright Owner and License

Authors

Creative Commons License

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-No Derivative Works 4.0 International License.

Additional URL

https://doi.org/10.1080/08927936.2023.2288745