Future Research in Human–Animal Interaction

Human–animal interaction (HAI) research has expanded rapidly over the past several decades, evolving from descriptive observations of companion animal relationships into an interdisciplinary field spanning veterinary medicine, psychology, public health, education, animal welfare, neuroscience, sociology, engineering, and the One Health framework. Researchers now investigate how interactions between humans and animals influence physical health, mental well-being, learning, social development, animal welfare, and environmental systems while recognizing that these relationships are dynamic and reciprocal rather than one-sided (McCune et al., 2014; Amiot & Bastian, 2014; Leconstant & Spitz, 2022).

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Despite this growth, the field still faces important scientific challenges. Studies often use different definitions, outcome measures, and research designs, making findings difficult to compare across populations and settings. Many investigations emphasize benefits for humans while providing relatively little information about animal experiences, welfare, or agency during interactions. These limitations have prompted researchers to shift attention toward improving scientific rigor, strengthening theoretical foundations, and ensuring that both human and animal outcomes receive equal consideration (Rodriguez et al., 2021; Samet et al., 2023; Griffin et al., 2019).

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Future research in human-animal interaction therefore extends beyond asking whether animals benefit people. Increasingly, investigators seek to understand how interactions produce measurable effects, which biological and social mechanisms are involved, when positive outcomes are most likely to occur, and whether animals also experience positive welfare during these relationships. Advances in digital technology, artificial intelligence, wearable sensors, physiological monitoring, and interdisciplinary collaboration are expected to accelerate this transition toward more precise, evidence-based research (Williams et al., 2024; Ezanno et al., 2021; Flynn et al., 2025).

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This major pillar explores where science is heading, highlighting emerging research priorities that aim to improve both scientific understanding and the welfare of humans and animals alike.

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What This Major Pillar Covers

 

This major pillar provides an evidence-based overview of the future directions shaping human-animal interaction research. Rather than focusing on individual studies or specific interventions, it examines the broader scientific developments that are expected to influence the field over the coming years.

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Key areas include:

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• improving research quality through standardized terminology and measurement

• strengthening theoretical frameworks that explain human–animal relationships

• expanding attention to animal welfare alongside human outcomes

• integrating digital technologies into HAI research

• broadening research beyond companion animals to include farms, zoos, wildlife, aquatic environments, laboratories, schools, disaster settings, and other multispecies contexts

• encouraging interdisciplinary collaboration across veterinary medicine, psychology, education, engineering, public health, and One Health disciplines (Beck & Katcher, 2003; Griffin et al., 2019; McCune et al., 2020).

 

As research methods continue to evolve, this body of evidence is expected to provide clearer answers regarding which interactions are beneficial, under what circumstances they occur, and how positive outcomes can be measured for both humans and animals.

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Why This Area Matters

 

Future research influences not only scientific knowledge but also how evidence is interpreted, compared, and translated into veterinary practice, public health initiatives, educational programs, and animal welfare policies. Stronger research methods allow scientists to distinguish genuine biological or psychological effects from findings that may result from study design, sampling differences, or inconsistent measurement.

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One recurring challenge is that many published studies evaluate human health outcomes while measuring the interaction itself only superficially. Information about the duration, quality, frequency, or context of interactions is often limited, making it difficult to determine why some studies report positive effects while others show mixed or inconclusive results (Rodriguez et al., 2021; Gee & Galik, 2019).

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Equally important is the growing recognition that animals should not be viewed solely as tools for improving human health. Contemporary HAI research increasingly emphasizes reciprocal relationships in which animal welfare, behavior, physiological responses, and opportunities for choice are evaluated alongside human outcomes. This perspective aligns closely with modern welfare science, including the Five Domains Model, which recognizes the importance of positive experiences and human–animal relationships in assessing animal well-being (Mellor et al., 2020; Rault et al., 2020).

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Another reason this area matters is technology's rapid expansion. Artificial intelligence, wearable biosensors, automated behavioral analysis, virtual environments, and digital communication tools are creating entirely new ways to study interactions between humans and animals. These technologies also raise important questions regarding ethics, data interpretation, animal agency, and welfare that future research must address (Williams et al., 2024; Ezanno et al., 2021).

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Ultimately, better research provides a stronger foundation for evidence-informed decision-making across multiple disciplines while supporting healthier relationships between people and animals.

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How This Major Pillar Relates to Mental Health & Human–Animal Interaction Overview

 

Future research represents one component of the broader Mental Health & Human–Animal Interaction Overview, which examines the scientific evidence surrounding relationships between humans and animals across emotional, psychological, behavioral, and social domains.

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Within that broader system, this major pillar focuses specifically on how scientific understanding is expected to evolve. It complements existing evidence by examining the methods, technologies, conceptual frameworks, and interdisciplinary collaborations that are shaping the next generation of HAI research.

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Rather than evaluating current evidence alone, this pillar considers how future studies may improve understanding of:

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• mechanisms underlying human–animal relationships

• standardized measurement of interactions

• animal-centered welfare outcomes

• digital innovation in HAI research

• broader applications across diverse human and animal populations

• translation of research into policy, education, and practice (Compitus, 2021; McCune et al., 2019).

 

Together, these topics help build a more comprehensive understanding of human–animal relationships within a One Health framework.

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Key Concepts Within This Pillar

 

Several interconnected concepts define the future direction of human-animal interaction research.

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Scientific Standardization

 

Researchers continue to work toward consistent terminology, validated measurement tools, and comparable study designs. Greater standardization improves the ability to compare findings across countries, species, and research settings while strengthening the overall evidence base (Samet et al., 2023; Hosey & Melfi, 2014).

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Theory Development

 

Future studies increasingly integrate theories from developmental psychology, attachment science, social support, behavioral biology, and biopsychosocial models to explain why human–animal interactions influence health and well-being. Strong theoretical frameworks guide hypothesis development and improve interpretation of research findings (Flynn et al., 2025; Beck & Katcher, 2003).

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Bidirectional Relationships

 

Modern HAI science recognizes that interactions affect both humans and animals. Measuring welfare outcomes for each participant provides a more complete understanding of relationship quality while supporting ethical research practices (Rault et al., 2020; Williams et al., 2024).

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Interdisciplinary Collaboration

 

HAI research increasingly brings together veterinary medicine, psychology, neuroscience, education, sociology, public health, engineering, computer science, animal behavior, and welfare science. This collaborative approach lets researchers examine complex relationships from multiple perspectives while encouraging innovation (Leighton et al., 2022; Griffin et al., 2019).

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Digital Innovation

 

Wearable technologies, artificial intelligence, physiological monitoring, automated behavior analysis, virtual environments, and machine-animal interaction systems are creating new opportunities to study human–animal relationships with greater precision than previously possible (Ezanno et al., 2021; Williams et al., 2024; Hirskyj-Douglas et al., 2018).

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One Health and One Welfare Perspectives

 

Future HAI research increasingly recognizes that human health, animal welfare, and environmental systems are interconnected. Integrating One Health and One Welfare principles encourages researchers to examine relationships across multiple species, ecosystems, and societal contexts rather than focusing solely on companion animals (Leconstant & Spitz, 2022; Javier-Ninahuaman, 2025).

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The following sections explore these themes in greater detail by examining emerging research areas, digital human–animal interaction, and the future directions expected to shape the next generation of evidence in this rapidly evolving scientific field.

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Emerging Research Areas

 

Human–animal interaction (HAI) research has matured into a multidisciplinary field that examines how relationships between humans and animals influence health, behavior, welfare, education, and society. Although the volume of published research continues to increase, scientists increasingly recognize that future progress depends less on simply producing more studies and more on improving how those studies are designed, measured, interpreted, and integrated. Emerging research areas therefore focus on strengthening scientific quality while expanding the scope of questions that HAI research can answer (Griffin et al., 2019; Rodriguez et al., 2021).

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Explore this theme in depth within our detailed overview on Emerging Research Areas in Human Animal Interaction. 

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Improving Scientific Methods

 

One of the most consistent priorities identified across the HAI literature is improving research methodology. Published studies often differ substantially in participant selection, study duration, intervention protocols, outcome measures, and definitions of human–animal interaction. As a result, comparing findings between studies remains challenging, even when they appear to investigate similar questions.

Researchers increasingly recommend the use of:

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• standardized terminology

• validated assessment tools

• clearly described interaction protocols

• appropriate control or comparison groups

• larger and more diverse study populations

• longitudinal designs that evaluate long-term outcomes

 

These methodological improvements make it easier to determine whether observed effects genuinely reflect human–animal interaction or instead reflect differences in study design. Greater consistency also facilitates systematic reviews and meta-analyses, which play an essential role in evaluating the overall strength of scientific evidence (Rodriguez et al., 2021; Samet et al., 2023; Gee & Galik, 2019).

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Beyond measuring outcomes, future studies are expected to document the interaction itself with greater precision. Characteristics such as frequency, duration, intensity, familiarity between participants, and environmental context may all influence outcomes but are often reported inconsistently. Better characterization of these variables will help clarify why similar studies sometimes produce different results.

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Building Stronger Theoretical Frameworks

 

Another emerging priority involves developing stronger theoretical models that explain why human–animal interactions influence health, behavior, and well-being. Earlier research often described observed associations without identifying the mechanisms behind those effects.

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Current investigators increasingly integrate concepts from developmental psychology, attachment theory, social support theory, biopsychosocial models, and relational developmental science to generate more testable hypotheses. Rather than viewing animals solely as passive providers of comfort or companionship, these frameworks recognize that relationships develop through continuous interactions involving both species.

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Recent theoretical work also emphasizes dynamic processes that evolve throughout the lifespan. Human–animal relationships may change with age, health status, environmental conditions, cultural influences, and individual life experiences, making developmental approaches particularly valuable for future research (Flynn et al., 2025; Beck & Katcher, 2003; Amiot & Bastian, 2014).

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More comprehensive theories also improve study design by helping researchers select meaningful outcome measures, identify potential confounders, and explain inconsistent findings across populations.

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Expanding Animal-Centered Research

 

Historically, much HAI research focused primarily on benefits experienced by humans, including emotional well-being, social support, stress reduction, and therapeutic outcomes. Although these topics remain important, growing attention is being directed toward understanding how animals experience these interactions.

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Animal-centered research evaluates welfare indicators such as behavior, physiological responses, emotional states, opportunities for choice, and environmental conditions. Rather than assuming that interactions are inherently positive, researchers increasingly seek objective evidence demonstrating whether animals also benefit from participation.

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This shift aligns closely with modern welfare science and the Five Domains Model, which incorporates human–animal interactions as one component influencing positive and negative welfare experiences. Investigators are increasingly interested in measuring positive affective states, resilience, and agency instead of focusing exclusively on preventing poor welfare (Mellor et al., 2020; Rault et al., 2020).

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Future studies are therefore expected to examine bidirectional outcomes in which both human and animal experiences contribute to the relationship's overall quality.

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Broadening Research Beyond Companion Animals

 

Dogs and cats continue to dominate the HAI literature, reflecting their widespread role as companion animals. However, researchers increasingly recognize that human–animal relationships extend across a much broader range of species and environments.

Emerging areas include:

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• horses participating in educational and therapeutic settings

• livestock managed within animal agriculture

• zoo and aquarium animals

• laboratory animals

• wildlife conservation contexts

• multispecies leisure activities

• working animals

• disaster and emergency response settings

 

Each of these environments presents unique social, behavioral, and welfare considerations that may differ substantially from those observed in household companion animals.

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For example, studies conducted in zoological collections examine how human presence influences animal behavior and welfare, while research in disaster settings explores how relationships between people and animals affect emergency preparedness, evacuation, recovery, and resilience. Investigations involving livestock increasingly consider how positive human–animal relationships contribute to welfare, productivity, and ethical management (Hosey & Melfi, 2014; Danby et al., 2019; Wu et al., 2023).

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Broadening research across species also strengthens the applicability of HAI science within One Health and One Welfare frameworks.

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Translation Through Interdisciplinary Collaboration

 

As HAI research becomes more sophisticated, collaboration between disciplines is becoming increasingly important. Veterinary scientists, physicians, psychologists, educators, engineers, computer scientists, animal behaviorists, sociologists, and public health researchers each contribute specialized expertise that helps address complex research questions.

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Researcher–practitioner partnerships represent another growing area of interest. Collaboration between academic investigators and professionals working in veterinary medicine, education, animal-assisted services, shelters, conservation programs, and public health improves the relevance and practical application of research findings. These partnerships help ensure that scientific evidence addresses real-world challenges while identifying new questions emerging from practice (Leighton et al., 2022; Nieforth et al., 2022).

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International collaboration is also expanding, enabling researchers to compare findings across cultures, geographic regions, and animal populations. Such diversity improves understanding of how environmental, social, and cultural factors shape human–animal relationships.

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Addressing Persistent Knowledge Gaps

 

Despite significant progress, several important gaps remain. Current evidence suggests that HAI research still measures human outcomes more consistently than animal experiences, and validated tools for assessing relationship quality remain limited across many settings. Additionally, many populations—including underserved communities, non-companion species, and crisis environments—remain underrepresented in the literature (Rodriguez et al., 2021; Samet et al., 2023; Williams et al., 2024).

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Addressing these gaps will require more than increasing publication numbers. The next generation of HAI research aims to improve measurement quality, strengthen theoretical integration, and expand investigation across diverse species and environments. By doing so, the field is moving toward a more comprehensive understanding of how human–animal relationships develop, function, and influence the health and welfare of both species.

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Digital Human–Animal Interaction

 

Digital technologies are transforming how researchers study human–animal interaction (HAI), creating new opportunities to collect objective data, monitor behavior, evaluate welfare, and expand access to human–animal interactions across diverse settings. Rather than replacing traditional HAI research, these innovations are increasingly viewed as tools that complement observational studies while generating more detailed, continuous, and standardized information about relationships between humans and animals (Ezanno et al., 2021; Williams et al., 2024).

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Examine these technological developments within our full analysis of Digital Human-Animal Interaction. 

As digital innovation accelerates, researchers are exploring not only how technology can improve scientific measurement but also how it influences the relationships themselves. Questions surrounding artificial intelligence (AI), wearable technologies, virtual interactions, robotics, automated behavioral analysis, and machine–animal communication have become important frontiers in contemporary HAI research.

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Wearable Technology and Physiological Monitoring

 

One of the fastest-growing developments in HAI research involves wearable technologies capable of continuously recording physiological and behavioral data from both humans and animals.

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Examples include devices that measure:

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• heart rate

• heart rate variability

• activity patterns

• sleep behavior

• body temperature

• movement and location

• stress-related physiological indicators

 

These tools enable researchers to move beyond subjective questionnaires by providing objective measurements collected during real-world interactions. Continuous monitoring also allows scientists to investigate how physiological responses change over time rather than relying on isolated observations.

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Recent studies have begun exploring physiological synchrony between humans and animals, examining whether shared emotional or behavioral states are reflected in measurable biological responses. Such approaches may provide deeper insight into the mechanisms underlying social bonding and emotional communication across species (Callara et al., 2024).

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Future research is expected to integrate wearable technologies with behavioral observations and environmental data, producing more comprehensive assessments of both human and animal experiences.

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Artificial Intelligence in Human–Animal Interaction Research

 

Artificial intelligence is becoming an increasingly valuable research tool across veterinary medicine and animal science. Machine learning algorithms can analyze large datasets far more efficiently than traditional methods, helping researchers identify behavioral patterns, physiological changes, and environmental influences that may otherwise be difficult to detect.

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Within HAI research, AI applications are being explored for:

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• automated behavior recognition

• video analysis of human–animal interactions

• welfare monitoring

• health surveillance

• prediction of behavioral changes

• precision animal welfare assessments

 

Rather than replacing human expertise, AI has the potential to support researchers by processing large volumes of information while improving consistency in behavioral coding and data interpretation (Ezanno et al., 2021).

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However, researchers also emphasize that AI systems should be developed carefully. Algorithms require validation across different species, environments, and contexts to avoid inaccurate conclusions. Ethical considerations—including transparency, data privacy, and animal welfare—remain central to responsible implementation (Williams et al., 2024; Gu, 2025).

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Virtual Human–Animal Interaction

 

Digital communication technologies have expanded opportunities for people to interact with animals remotely. Virtual HAI includes live video interactions, online educational programs, virtual animal-assisted activities, digital observation of animals, and other technology-mediated experiences.

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Interest in these approaches increased substantially during the COVID-19 pandemic, when physical access to animals became more limited. Researchers began examining whether virtual interactions could provide psychological, educational, or social benefits while also identifying situations in which in-person interactions remain important (Ng et al., 2021; Hughes et al., 2021).

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Virtual HAI is now considered an emerging research area rather than simply a temporary adaptation. Potential applications include:

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• distance learning

• public education

• professional training

• community outreach

• support for geographically isolated populations

• research participation across wider geographic regions

 

Although virtual experiences differ from direct contact with animals, they offer opportunities to investigate which aspects of human–animal relationships depend on physical interaction and which may occur through observation, communication, or emotional engagement.

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Researchers continue to evaluate the effectiveness, limitations, and appropriate applications of virtual HAI while recognizing that digital experiences should not automatically be considered equivalent to direct interaction (Tardif-Williams & Binfet, 2023).

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Animal Computer Interaction and Intelligent Systems

 

Another emerging field is Animal Computer Interaction (ACI), which examines how animals engage directly with technology. Rather than designing digital systems exclusively for humans, ACI seeks to develop interfaces that consider animals' sensory abilities, behavior, cognition, and welfare.

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Examples under investigation include:

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• interactive enrichment devices

• communication interfaces

• automated learning systems

• intelligent environmental controls

• animal-operated technologies

• wearable communication devices

 

Researchers emphasize that successful technologies should be designed around the needs and capabilities of the animals themselves rather than requiring animals to adapt to human-centered systems (Hirskyj-Douglas et al., 2018; Pons et al., 2017).

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This animal-centered perspective reflects broader changes within HAI research that prioritize agency, welfare, and species-specific behavior.

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Machine–Animal Interaction and Welfare

 

As technology becomes increasingly integrated into animal management, researchers are also studying machine–animal interactions. These interactions occur when automated systems—including sensors, robotic devices, monitoring platforms, and AI-assisted management tools—become regular components of animals' daily environments.

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Potential benefits include:

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• continuous welfare monitoring

• earlier detection of behavioral changes

• improved environmental management

• reduced observational bias

• more consistent data collection

 

At the same time, researchers caution that technology should not be assumed to improve welfare automatically. Automated systems may alter behavior, influence social interactions, or introduce new stressors if poorly designed or implemented, such as failing to account for nonhuman sensory channels like ultrasonic electronic noise, visual display flicker rates, or artificial scent disturbances. 

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Current research therefore emphasizes evaluating not only technological performance but also how animals perceive, respond to, and adapt to these systems. Welfare assessments increasingly include behavioral observations, physiological measurements, and opportunities for animals to exercise choice when interacting with digital technologies (Williams et al., 2024).

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Ethical Considerations in Digital Human–Animal Interaction

 

Rapid technological advancement brings new ethical questions that extend beyond technical performance.

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Researchers are increasingly considering issues such as:

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• protecting animal welfare during technology development

• validating digital welfare indicators before widespread adoption

• maintaining transparency in AI decision-making

• avoiding excessive anthropomorphism when interpreting automated data

• ensuring that technology supports rather than replaces appropriate human observation

 

Ethical frameworks also encourage careful evaluation of whether digital systems promote positive experiences for animals or merely improve efficiency for humans. This reflects the broader movement toward reciprocal, welfare-centered HAI research rather than human-centered innovation alone (Leconstant & Spitz, 2022; Williams et al., 2024).

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Digital Innovation Within the Future of Human–Animal Interaction

 

Digital technologies are expected to remain one of the most influential drivers of future HAI research. Their greatest contribution extends beyond generating larger datasets—it lies in improving the precision, reproducibility, and transparency of scientific investigations.

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As wearable sensors, artificial intelligence, virtual platforms, and animal-centered technologies continue to evolve, they are expected to strengthen collaboration among veterinary medicine, engineering, behavioral science, psychology, computer science, and public health. At the same time, researchers continue to emphasize that technological innovation should remain grounded in rigorous scientific validation and ethical consideration of both human and animal well-being.

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The future of digital human–animal interaction therefore depends not only on developing more advanced technologies, but also on ensuring that these innovations contribute to a deeper understanding of healthy, mutually beneficial relationships between people and animals.

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Future Directions

 

The future of human–animal interaction (HAI) research is increasingly defined by a shift from asking whether interactions influence health and well-being to understanding how, why, for whom, and under what conditions those effects occur. This evolution reflects the growing maturity of the field as researchers seek stronger evidence, broader interdisciplinary collaboration, and greater attention to the experiences of both humans and animals.

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Read our complete systematic review on Future Directions in Human Animal Interaction Research. 

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Rather than pursuing isolated studies, future research is expected to integrate advances in behavioral science, veterinary medicine, psychology, neuroscience, engineering, public health, education, and One Health. Together, these disciplines aim to build a more comprehensive understanding of human–animal relationships across diverse species, cultures, and environments (McCune et al., 2020; Griffin et al., 2019).

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Advancing Toward More Rigorous Evidence

 

One of the highest priorities identified throughout the literature is improving scientific rigor. Although thousands of HAI studies have been published, considerable variation remains in study design, terminology, participant selection, intervention protocols, and outcome measurement.

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Future investigations are expected to place greater emphasis on:

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• standardized terminology

• validated measurement instruments

• reproducible study protocols

• longitudinal follow-up

• multicenter collaboration

• transparent reporting

• larger and more representative study populations

 

These improvements will strengthen the ability of researchers to compare findings across studies and evaluate evidence through systematic reviews and meta-analyses.

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Equally important is the need to measure the interaction itself more carefully. Future studies are increasingly encouraged to document factors such as interaction quality, duration, familiarity, environmental conditions, and relationship history, helping explain why similar interventions sometimes produce different outcomes (Rodriguez et al., 2021; Samet et al., 2023).

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Strengthening Theoretical Integration

 

As the field expands, stronger theoretical foundations are becoming essential for guiding research questions and interpreting findings.

Future HAI science is expected to integrate concepts from multiple disciplines, including:

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• attachment theory

• developmental psychology

• biopsychosocial models

• social support theory

• behavioral ecology

• relational developmental science

• One Health and One Welfare frameworks

 

Rather than relying primarily on descriptive observations, these models help explain the biological, psychological, social, and environmental pathways through which human–animal relationships develop and influence health.

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The increasing emphasis on theory also encourages researchers to investigate mechanisms rather than simple associations. For example, future studies may examine how trust, attachment, physiological regulation, communication, learning, or environmental context contribute to observed outcomes across different species and populations (Flynn et al., 2025; Beck & Katcher, 2003).

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Expanding Bidirectional Research

 

One of the most important conceptual changes in modern HAI research is the growing recognition that interactions involve two participants whose experiences may influence one another.

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Earlier research frequently emphasized human psychological or physical health while assuming that animal participation was inherently beneficial. Contemporary investigators increasingly recognize that this assumption requires direct scientific evaluation.

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Future research is therefore expected to measure:

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• operational behavioral indicators of agency like contact solicitation, latency to approach, or active avoidance

• physiological responses

• emotional states

• opportunities for choice and control

• indicators of positive welfare

• relationship quality

• reciprocal communication between species

 

This bidirectional perspective reflects the broader movement toward animal-centered research and supports ethical investigation of relationships that benefit both humans and animals (Rault et al., 2020; Williams et al., 2024).

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Rather than asking whether animals can improve human well-being, future studies increasingly ask how healthy relationships can support the welfare of everyone involved.

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Broadening Contexts and Populations

 

Another important direction involves expanding HAI research beyond traditional companion animal settings.

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Current literature remains heavily concentrated on dogs, cats, and animal-assisted interventions. However, researchers increasingly recognize opportunities to investigate human–animal relationships across a wider variety of environments.

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Emerging contexts include:

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• aging populations

• schools and educational settings

• livestock production systems

• zoological institutions

• aquariums

• wildlife conservation

• disaster preparedness and emergency response

• multispecies recreation

• laboratory animal care

• community-based public health programs

 

These settings provide opportunities to investigate how environmental, cultural, occupational, and ecological factors influence relationships between humans and animals.

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For example, disaster research has highlighted the need to understand how human–animal relationships affect preparedness, evacuation decisions, recovery, and community resilience. Similarly, educational research continues to explore how interactions with animals influence learning environments across different ages and educational settings (Wu et al., 2023; Gee et al., 2017).

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Building Global and Interdisciplinary Collaboration

 

Future HAI research is expected to become increasingly collaborative.

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Many important research questions require expertise that extends beyond a single discipline. Veterinary medicine contributes knowledge of animal health and welfare, while psychology, neuroscience, education, sociology, public health, engineering, computer science, and behavioral science each offer complementary perspectives.

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Researcher–practitioner partnerships also continue to expand. Collaboration between academic researchers and professionals working in veterinary practice, animal-assisted services, education, shelters, conservation, and public health helps ensure that scientific questions remain relevant to real-world challenges.

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International collaboration further improves the diversity of study populations and promotes standardized research methods that can be applied across different countries and cultures (Leighton et al., 2022; Nieforth et al., 2022).

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Supporting One Health and One Welfare

 

One Health and One Welfare perspectives are expected to become increasingly influential in future HAI research.

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Rather than separating human health, animal welfare, and environmental sustainability, these frameworks recognize that they are closely interconnected. Human–animal relationships occur within broader ecological and social systems, making interdisciplinary investigation especially valuable.

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Future studies are likely to explore questions involving:

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• community health

• biodiversity

• environmental change

• sustainable animal management

• zoonotic disease preparedness

• ecosystem resilience

• ethical stewardship of animals

 

These broader perspectives encourage researchers to examine relationships across multiple species and environments while recognizing that healthy human communities depend upon healthy animals and ecosystems (Leconstant & Spitz, 2022; Javier-Ninahuaman, 2025).

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Looking Ahead

 

The next generation of HAI research is expected to be more collaborative, theory-driven, technologically sophisticated, and animal-centered than ever before. Rather than focusing exclusively on documenting positive outcomes, investigators increasingly seek to understand the mechanisms underlying human–animal relationships, identify factors that influence success, and evaluate outcomes for both species.

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Although important methodological challenges remain, the field continues to evolve toward greater scientific precision, standardized measurement, and broader interdisciplinary integration. These advances are expected to strengthen evidence quality while supporting ethical, reciprocal relationships between humans and animals across diverse settings.

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Current Research Themes

 

Several themes consistently emerge across contemporary literature and are likely to shape the future of human–animal interaction research.

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Improved Measurement and Standardization

 

Developing consistent terminology, validated assessment tools, and reproducible research methods remains one of the field's highest priorities. Standardization allows evidence to accumulate more effectively across disciplines and populations while improving the reliability of systematic reviews and evidence synthesis (Samet et al., 2023; Rodriguez et al., 2021).

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Animal Welfare as a Core Outcome

 

Modern HAI research increasingly measures animal welfare alongside human outcomes. Researchers emphasize that healthy relationships should benefit both participants and that animal behavior, physiology, and opportunities for choice deserve direct evaluation rather than assumption (Rault et al., 2020; Mellor et al., 2020).

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Integration of Digital Technologies

 

Artificial intelligence, wearable sensors, automated behavioral analysis, virtual interaction platforms, and machine–animal interfaces are expanding research capabilities while introducing new ethical and scientific questions. These technologies are expected to improve data collection and precision when appropriately validated (Ezanno et al., 2021; Williams et al., 2024).

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Broader Species and Contexts

 

Researchers continue to expand beyond companion animals by investigating relationships involving livestock, horses, wildlife, zoo animals, aquatic species, laboratory animals, and multispecies communities. Disaster response, conservation, education, recreation, and public health have also emerged as important areas for future investigation (Hosey & Melfi, 2014; Wu et al., 2023; Danby et al., 2019).

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Theory-Driven and Interdisciplinary Science

 

Future HAI research increasingly combines expertise from veterinary medicine, psychology, neuroscience, education, engineering, sociology, public health, and behavioral science. Strong theoretical frameworks and interdisciplinary collaboration are expected to improve understanding of the complex biological and social processes that shape relationships between humans and animals (Flynn et al., 2025; Griffin et al., 2019).

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Collectively, these themes illustrate a field that is moving beyond documenting isolated outcomes toward developing a robust, evidence-based understanding of the dynamic relationships between humans and animals. The future of HAI research lies not simply in demonstrating that interactions matter, but in explaining how they influence health, welfare, and well-being across species, environments, and societies.

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Frequently Asked Questions

 

What is the future research in human-animal interaction?

 

The future research in human-animal interaction focuses on improving scientific quality, developing stronger theoretical frameworks, expanding animal-centered welfare research, integrating digital technologies, and studying relationships across a wider range of species and environments. Rather than asking only whether interactions are beneficial, researchers increasingly investigate how these relationships work, for whom they are most effective, and how outcomes can be measured for both humans and animals (Rodriguez et al., 2021; Flynn et al., 2025).

 

Why is standardization important in human-animal interaction research?

 

Standardized terminology, validated measurement tools, and consistent study designs allow researchers to compare findings across different studies, populations, and countries. Greater consistency strengthens evidence synthesis, improves reproducibility, and helps identify which findings are supported by the strongest scientific evidence (Samet et al., 2023; Rodriguez et al., 2021).

 

Why are animal welfare outcomes receiving greater attention?

 

Modern HAI research increasingly recognizes that relationships involve both humans and animals. Researchers therefore evaluate behavioral, physiological, and welfare outcomes in animals alongside human health and well-being. This bidirectional approach supports ethical research while providing a more complete understanding of relationship quality (Rault et al., 2020; Mellor et al., 2020).

 

How is technology changing human-animal interaction research?

 

Advances in wearable sensors, artificial intelligence, automated behavioral analysis, physiological monitoring, and virtual interaction platforms enable researchers to collect more objective and continuous data than traditional observation alone. These technologies also create new opportunities to study animal welfare, communication, and relationship dynamics while introducing important ethical considerations that require careful evaluation (Ezanno et al., 2021; Williams et al., 2024).

 

Which areas of human-animal interaction remain underrepresented?

 

Although companion animals remain the primary focus of published research, scientists increasingly identify important knowledge gaps involving livestock, zoo animals, wildlife, aquatic animals, disaster response, laboratory animal care, multispecies recreation, and culturally diverse populations. Expanding research across these settings will improve understanding of human–animal relationships within broader ecological and societal contexts (Hosey & Melfi, 2014; Wu et al., 2023).

 

How does One Health influence future human-animal interaction research?

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One Health recognizes that human health, animal welfare, and environmental health are interconnected. Future HAI research increasingly applies this framework by studying relationships across multiple species and ecosystems while encouraging collaboration among veterinary medicine, public health, environmental science, psychology, and related disciplines (Leconstant & Spitz, 2022).

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Explore Related Topics

 

Continue exploring the Mental Health & Human–Animal Interaction knowledge system:

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• Mental Health & Human–Animal Interaction Overview

• Emerging Research Areas

• Digital Human–Animal Interaction

• Future Directions