Study Finds Dogs Reduce Stress in Families With Autistic Children
New research has shown that owning a dog reduces stress in families who have a child with autism spectrum disorder (ASD). They researchers also found significant improvements in family functionality in families with a dog compared to those without.
Study Finds Dogs Reduce Stress in Families With Autistic Children
The study was carried out at the University of Lincoln UK and has been published in the American Journal of Veterinary Behavior. Since previous studies have focused on the positive effects dogs have on the children, researchers wanted to find out what effects owning a dog has on those more widely affected by autism.
The study was a follow up to a previous study that focused on the short term effects having a dog has on families with children with autism. Researchers followed up with these families 2.5 years later to study the the long term effects the dogs had on the family.
The study found that the short term improvements in family functioning lasted years beyond the initial findings, and that the levels of stress continued to decline.
Significantly reduced family difficulties (increased family strengths) were observed in families who acquired a pet dog compared to families who did not acquire a pet dog, indicating that improved family functioning was maintained 2.5 years later – The Long Term Benefits of Dog Ownership in Families with Children with Autism
This study shows that having a pet dog in the home decreases the stress levels for everyone in the home. That same reduction was not evident in families without a dog. The study highlights the potential long term positive effects having a dog can have for families.
Parents of children with autism can experience increased anxiety and stress, and now we have strong scientific evidence to show that pets can have positive effects on these quality-of-life issues.- Dogs De-stress Families With Autistic Children, New Research Shows
New research has found that having a dog reduces stress in families with autistic children, and that those improvements last for years.
Previous Studies Found That Dogs Benefit Children With Autism
In 2014 researchers at University College Cork (UCC) found that children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) benefit from having a dog, especially at a young age.
The study focused on the benefits that specially trained assistance dogs can provide to children with ADS. They analyzed questionnaires from 80 families with a dog, and 84 who were on the waiting list for a dog.
The researchers focused on the impact having a service dog had for the families in areas of child safety, caregiver strain & awareness of ASD. They found that those with an assistance dog showed an improved quality of life for everyone in the household.
In 2016 PLOS ONE study researchers found that trained assistance dogs help increase child safety, outdoor access, and can lead to enhanced communication and social interaction.
When they compared children with service dogs to those without they found significant positive differences in the children’s adaptability, social skills and conflict management techniques. – Study Finds Dogs Benefit Children With Autism
I hope every family with an autistic child can have a dog trained to help the child.
I’m glad they are researching this. But considering how dogs are being used in courtrooms to comfort children who need to testify, how they are helping people with PTSD and they are brought to areas for people who have been through horrific events, AND considering how calming I find dogs, I’m just surprised it took them this long. 😀
This reminds me of when my parents picked up their dog as a puppy. Another pup from the litter didn’t interact with anyone, just wandered off and did their own thing, until a family with an autistic child came. The pup went right up to the boy, and they started to play. Needless to say, that family took home a puppy that day.
Five years later, it still makes me smile 🙂
Such an sweet story, it’s amazing how pets sometimes pick us.
Love heals. Many studies show that dogs work as social catalysts by encouraging people to bond with each other. A few studies have found this notion true in terms of kids with autism. Most dogs are very, very good at unconditional love. And most autistics don’t get much if any, positive interaction with people. Dogs give the benefit of non-threatening physical contact, and the presence of a being whom you don’t have to second-guess or get stressed around. They combine some of the benefits of being in a company with the benefits of being alone. When I was diagnosed with psychological conditions a while back what helped me the most during this painful journey is my beloved dog. I came across this website https://esacare.com/adopting-emotional-support-animal-guide/ when I wanted to get my dog as an ESA and I found this extremely beneficial. Dogs act as “social catalysts,” even encouraging adults to be a little friendlier to each other and they have a similar effect on kids with autism. Children with autism may especially benefit from interacting with dogs, which can provide unconditional, nonjudgmental love, and companionship. Interacting with a pet benefits many children with autism. However, there is a need to consider each child’s sensitivities as well as family dynamics in carefully considering pet ownership.