Dogs found to reduce children’s stress levels
15th May 2017
We’ve all heard about or seen the studies that claim that having a pet is good for a child; whether it be companionship, social skills or reducing the likelihood of developing allergies or asthma. Until now however, the science as to how exactly having a pet advantages children socially and emotionally has not been widely explored.
Researchers from the University of Florida have recently published the results of a randomised control trial that aimed to investigate just this. Children aged between 7 and 12 years old, from pet owning families were invited to take part in a simple experiment alongside their furry friends. The children were randomly assigned to one of three conditions. In one they were required to complete a maths task and a public speaking task on their own. In the other two conditions they had either a parent or their canine companion accompanying them. It was found that children reported feeling less stressed when they had their pet with them compared to when they were on their own or just with a parent.
Biological markers of stress (cortisol levels) were also collected from the children before and after completing the stressful tasks. These results suggested that the nature of the interactions between children and their dogs was the main factor in mediating stress levels. Those who actively engaged with their pets (e.g. inviting them over to be stroked or cuddled) had lower cortisol levels than those who did not actively engage with their dog.
The study could have important implications in understanding what helps to mediate stress levels in younger children as well as providing more information as to the important role family pets can play in our emotional development growing up.