We see a lot of discussion about Autism service dogs in our sensory community and the unbelievable benefits. But what about the impact of dogs on the entire family?
As a sensory parent, I have seen first hand the benefits our dogs have brought to my sensory kiddo. He sleeps better at night. He was able to hug our dog well before he was able to hug us because of tactile aversion. When he’s sad or upset, they know he needs love and respond. They make him feel important and needed and loved on a level only a dog can.
But our dogs also give me incredible benefits as a parent — despite the fun chaos they bring, they’ve also given me an outlet to cuddle with, to have a companion who doesn’t judge me and just showers me with unconditional love… even on my bad days.
What’s interesting is that this study didn’t focus on Autism service dogs but just on lovely family pets. Yes, some kids would significantly benefit from having a service dog, but also keep in mind that the family pet can do wonders for everyone.
And while this study focuses on dogs, you cannot dismiss how many families have also found cats to be wonderful for their family!
Study Finds Dogs De-Stress Families with Autistic Children
The Human Animal Bond Research Initiative (HABRI) Foundation announced today the results of a long-term study to explore the effects of pet dogs on families with children with autism spectrum disorder, just published in the Journal of Veterinary Behavior.
The findings of the study showed significantly improved family functioning of families with a dog compared to those without. The study also found a reduction in parent-child dysfunctional interactions among families that had a dog.
“While there is growing evidence that animal-assisted therapy can aid in the treatment of children with autism spectrum disorders, this study is one of the first to examine how pet dog ownership can also improve the lives of those more widely affected by autism,” said the principal investigator on the study, Professor Daniel Mills, BVSc, PhD, from the University of Lincoln, UK. “We found a significant, positive relationship between parenting stress of the child’s main caregiver and their attachment to the family dog. This highlights the importance of the bond between the carer and their dog in the benefits they gain.”
HABRI Executive Director Steven Feldman said: “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. Families with an autistic child should consider pet ownership as a way to improve family harmony.”
This is among the first published studies of more than a dozen HABRI-funded research projects examining the effects of companion animals on human health. The study followed up 2.5 years later with families involved in a previous study on the short-term effect of a pet dog on families of a child with autism, in order to determine the longevity of the benefits of pet ownership. The study demonstrated that initial results of reduced family difficulties lasted years beyond the early stages of acquiring a dog, and that stress levels continued to experience a steady decline.
“Stress associated with parenting a child with autism continued to decrease among dog owners over time, but we did not see the same reductions in families without a dog,” added Prof. Mills. “This long-term follow up study highlights the potential benefits of pet ownership in bringing long-term improvements to the lives of families living with a child with autism.”
About HABRI Foundation
Founded by Petco, Zoetis, and the American Pet Products Association and supported by a growing number of organizations, the HABRI Foundation maintains the world’s largest online library of human-animal bond research and information; to date has funded more than half a million dollars in independent research projects to scientifically document the health benefits of companion animals; and informs the public about human-animal bond research and the beneficial role of companion animals in society. For more information about the HABRI Foundation, visit http://www.habri.org.
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