Kids Trust K-9s Before Siblings

Children are more likely to confide in pets than siblings, says research.

19:21 07 May 2015

A recent study has revealed that children, who are facing adversity such as parents separating, are more likely to confide in their pet than siblings. 

 

Matt Cassels at Cambridge University said that children feel that their pets are not judging them. 

 

Mr Cassels, which research is based on a 10-year study of 100 families in the UK, said that the role that pets play in the lives of young people is significantly undermined. 

 

"The data on pet relationships stood out, as it had never occurred to me to consider looking at pet relationships, although I had studied children's other relationships," says Mr Cassels.

 

Mr Cassels says the research shows that children facing emotional difficulties, such as "bereavement, divorce, instability and illness" place a particular importance on their pets.

 

"These children not only turn to their pets for support when faced with adversity, they do so even more than they turn to their siblings.

 

"This is even though they know their pets don't actually understand what they are saying," he adds.