Pet dogs improve family functioning and reduce anxiety in children with autism spectrum disorder

摘要

Jessica Hardiman*†, Richard Mills‡ud, PAWS ProjectudTeam† and Daniel Mills*ud*udUniversity of Lincoln, School of Life Sciences, Joseph BanksudLaboratories, UKud†udDogs for the Disables, Frances Hay Centre, Banbury, Oxfordshire, UKud‡udResearch Autism, Adam House, London, UKudABSTRACT There is increasing evidence to suggest that dogs areudbeneficial for children with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) in therapyudsessions, and anecdotal reports suggest that dogs may have wider benefits,udin a family setting. This study investigated the effect of dog ownershipudon family functioning and child anxiety. Using a validated scale ofudfamily strengths and weaknesses (Brief Version of the Family AssessmentudMeasure-III [General Scale]), we compared parents of children with ASDudwho had recently acquired a pet dog (n = 42, Intervention group) with audsimilar group of parents not acquiring a dog (n = 28, Control group) atudmatched time points. A sub-population (n =14 acquiring a dog, n = 26udcontrols) completed a parental-report measure of child anxiety (SpenceudChildren’s Anxiety Scale). The primary carer completed the scales viaudtelephone at Baseline (up to 17 weeks before acquiring a dog), Postinterventionud(3–10 weeks after acquisition), and Follow-up (25–40 weeksudafter acquisition). Over time, scores for family functioning showed significantudimprovements (reduced family weaknesses, increased strengths) inudthe dog-owning compared with the non-dog owning group. In comparisonudwith the non-dog owning group, anxiety scores in the dog-owningudgroup reduced by a greater percentage, most notably in the domains ofudObsessive Compulsive Disorder (26% greater decrease), Panic Attackudand Agoraphobia (24%), Social Phobia (22%), and Separation Anxietyud(22%). The results illustrate the potential of pet dogs to improve wholeudfamily functioning and child anxiety.