Table 1 ALSPAC outcomes and measures selected for the study (for how variables were analysed/coded see additional data file)

Emotional Health

Self-esteem (scholastic competence)

8

Harter Self-Perception Profile (HSPP) (CiF clinic)

Pet ownership age 8

Self-esteem (global self worth)

8

Harter Self-Perception Profile (HSPP) (CiF clinic)

Pet ownership age 8

Separation anxiety

7, 10 and 13

Development And Wellbeing Assessment (DAWBA) (child-based questionnaire (parent reported))

Pet ownership age 7

Pet ownership age 10

Pet ownership age 13

Pet interaction age 6

Pet ownership repeated measures all time points.

History of pet ownership by age 13

Social anxiety

7, 10 and 13

Development And Wellbeing Assessment (DAWBA) (child-based questionnaire (parent reported))

Pet ownership age 7

Pet ownership age 10

Pet ownership age 13

Pet interaction age 6

Repeated measures all time points.

History of pet ownership by age 13

Generalised anxiety

7, 10 and 13

Development And Wellbeing Assessment (DAWBA) (child-based questionnaire (parent reported))

Pet ownership age 7

Pet ownership age 10

Pet ownership age 13

Pet interaction age 6

Pet ownership repeated measures all time points.

History of pet ownership by age 13

Depression

7

DAWBA (child-based questionnaire (parent reported))

Pet ownership age 7

Pet interaction age 6

10 and 13

Mood and Feelings Questionnaire (MFQ) (CiF clinic)

Pet ownership age 10

Pet ownership age13

History of pet ownership by age 13

Behaviour

Hyperactivity

3

Revised Rutter Scale (RRS) (parent reported)

Pet ownership age 3

11

Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire (SDQ) (parent reported)

Pet ownership age 11

History of pet ownership by age 11

Emotional symptoms

3

Revised Rutter Scale (RRS) (parent reported)

Pet ownership age 3

11

Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire (SDQ) (parent reported)

Pet ownership age 11

History of pet ownership by age 11

Conduct problems

3

Revised Rutter Scale (RRS)

Pet ownership age 3

11

Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire (SDQ) (parent reported)

Pet ownership age 11

History of pet ownership by age 11

Peer problems

11

Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire (SDQ) (parent reported)

Pet ownership age 11

History of pet ownership by age 11

Prosocial behaviour

3

Revised Rutter Scale (RRS) (parent reported)

Pet ownership age 3

11

Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire (SDQ) (parent reported)

Pet ownership age 11

History of pet ownership by age 11

Total behavioural difficulties

3

Revised Rutter Scale (RRS)

Pet ownership age 3

11

Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire (SDQ) (parent reported)

Pet ownership age 11

History of pet ownership by age 11

Cognition/Executive function

Selective attention

8 and 11

Tests of Everyday Attention for Children (TEACh) (CiF clinic) - Sky Search

Pet ownership age 8,

Pet ownership age 11

History of pet ownership by age 11

Attentional Switching

8 and 11

Tests of Everyday Attention for Children (TEACh) (CiF clinic) - Dual Task

Pet ownership age 8

Pet ownership age 11

Pet ownership repeated measures all time points.

History of pet ownership by age 11.

Attentional control

8 and 11

Tests of Everyday Attention for Children (TEACh) (CiF clinic) - Same worlds

Pet ownership age 8

Pet ownership age 11

History of pet ownership by age 11.

8 and 11

Tests of Everyday Attention for Children (TEACh) (CiF clinic) - Opposite worlds

Pet ownership age 8

Pet ownership age 11

History of pet ownership by age 11

Inhibition/impulsivity

10

Stop-signal task (CiF clinic) (150ms delay)

Pet ownership age 10

10

Stop-signal task (CiF clinic) (250ms delay)

Pet ownership age 10

Working memory

8

Digit recall (CiF clinic)

Pet ownership age 8

10

Counting span task (CiF clinic)

Pet ownership age 10

Education

Reading

7

Standard Assessment Test (SATs) Key Stage 1 (KS1)

Pet ownership age 7

Writing

7

Standard Assessment Test (SATs) Key Stage 1 (KS1)

Pet ownership age 7

Maths

7

Standard Assessment Test (SATs) Key Stage 1 (KS1)

Pet ownership age 7

Summary score

7

Standard Assessment Test (SATs) Key Stage 1 (KS1)

Pet ownership age 7

English

11

Standard Assessment Test (SATs) Key Stage 2 (KS)

Pet ownership age 11

Maths

Standard Assessment Test (SATs) Key Stage 2 (KS)

Pet ownership age 11

Science

Standard Assessment Test (SATs) Key Stage 2 (KS)

Pet ownership age 11

Summary score

Standard Assessment Test (SATs) Key Stage 2 (KS)

Pet ownership age 11

English

15

General Certificate of Secondary Education (GCSE) attainment grades

Pet ownership age 15

History of pet ownership by age 15

Maths

15

General Certificate of Secondary Education (GCSE) attainment grades

Pet ownership age 15

History of pet ownership by age 15

Biological Sciences

15

General Certificate of Secondary Education (GCSE) attainment grades

Pet ownership age 15

History of pet ownership by age 15

Chemistry

15

General Certificate of Secondary Education (GCSE) attainment grades

Pet ownership age 15

History of pet ownership by age 15

Physics

15

General Certificate of Secondary Education (GCSE) attainment grades

Pet ownership age 15

History of pet ownership by age 15

Achieved 5 A*-C

15

General Certificate of Secondary Education (GCSE) attainment grades

Pet ownership age 15

History of pet ownership by age 15

Language

Language development score

2 and 5

Reynell Development Language Scale (RDLS) (CiF clinic)

Pet ownership age 2

Pet ownership age 5

Total Communication Score

2

MacArthur Communicative Development Inventories (MCDI) (parent reported)

Pet ownership age 2

Vocabulary score

2

MacArthur Communicative Development Inventories (MCDI) (parent reported)

Pet ownership age 2

Non-verbal communication score

2

MacArthur Communicative Development Inventories (MCDI) (parent reported)

Pet ownership age 2

Social development score

2

MacArthur Communicative Development Inventories (MCDI) (parent reported)

Pet ownership age 2