The effects of interacting with fish in aquariums on human health and well-being: A systematic review

Abstract

Background Most research into the health benefits of human-animal interaction has focused on species that interact physically with humans, such as dogs. This may be unsuitable for certain populations for reasons including accessibility and the risk of negative consequences to both the person and the animal. However, some research has associated viewing fish in aquariums with positive well-being outcomes; as there is no physical contact with the animal, this form of interaction carries less risk. At present, little is known about the specific benefits of human-fish interaction. Objectives To explore current evidence relating to the psychological and physiological benefits of interacting with fish in aquariums. Methods Systematic searches were conducted to identify relevant primary research of any design. All forms of interaction were considered, including keeping fish as companion animals and fish aquarium-based interventions. “Non-live” alternatives, such as videos, were also considered. This review was conducted according to a registered protocol (PROSPERO ID: CRD42018090466). Results Nineteen studies were included. Two provided tentative evidence that keeping home aquaria is associated with relaxation. The remaining studies involved novel interactions with fish in home or public aquariums. Outcomes relating to anxiety, relaxation and/or physiological stress were commonly assessed; evidence was mixed with both positive and null findings. Preliminary support was found for effects on mood, pain, nutritional intake and body weight, but not loneliness. All studies had methodological issues and risk of bias was either high or unclear. Conclusions Review findings suggest that interacting with fish in aquariums has the potential to benefit human well-being, although research on this topic is currently limited. Future research should aim to address gaps in the evidence, such as whether and how the type of human-fish interaction can influence well-being outcomes. Researchers should also aim to address the methodological concerns highlighted in this review.

The State of Animal-Assisted Interventions: Addressing the Contemporary Issues That Will Shape the Future

“…Data analysis also has developed beyond basic statistical analysis of small samples to larger multisite studies, along with systematic review and meta-analysis of existing studies [44,47,62,63,64,65,66,67,68,69]. Panel studies have been employed, studying the role of AAI in the aging community [24].…”

“…While some of the earliest uses of animals to improve the health of people were farm animals, modern studies most often use dogs, then companion horses [70,71,72], and, to a lesser extent, cats [43,73]. Within the last three decades, other species have been used, including fish [23,62,74,75], birds [76], guinea pigs [47], and reptiles [77]. There is now growing literature on the use of robots that resemble and behave like animals [78,79,80,81].…”

Companion Animal Type and Level of Engagement Matter: A Mixed-Methods Study Examining Links between Companion Animal Guardianship, Loneliness and Well-Being during the COVID-19 Pandemic

“…Much research has focused on animals that interact with humans in a physical or social manner, namely dogs, cats and horses. Comparatively few studies have examined the impact of other animal types, such as ornamental fishes [ 30 ]. Fishes represent a significant proportion of companion animals, for example they are the third most popular companion animal in the UK and are by far the most numerous, as one home aquarium may contain many fishes ( , accessed on 26 February 2021).…”

Pathways linking biodiversity to human health: A conceptual framework

“…A person has no physical contact with biodiversity, and interaction is a by-product of another activity, e.g. video of an aquarium in the dentist waiting room (Clements et al, 2019).…”