Effect of Pet Dogs on Children's Perceived Stress and Cortisol Stress Response

Area of Science:

• Child Psychology
• Human-Animal Interaction
• Stress Physiology

Background:

• Children experience significant stress during challenging social evaluations.
• The role of non-human companions in mitigating childhood stress is an area of growing interest.
• Understanding stress-buffering effects is crucial for developing supportive interventions.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the stress-buffering capacity of pet dogs for children during a laboratory stressor.
• To compare the effects of pet dog presence versus parent presence on children's stress responses.
• To examine physiological (cortisol) and psychological (perceived stress) stress markers.

Main Methods:

• 101 children (7-12 years) participated in the Trier Social Stress Test for Children (TSST-C).
• Participants were randomly assigned to conditions: pet dog present, parent present, or no support.
• Salivary cortisol and self-reported stress were measured at baseline, during stress, and during recovery.

Main Results:

• Pet dog presence significantly reduced children's perceived stress compared to being alone or having a parent present.
• No significant main effect of condition was found for cortisol levels.
• Lower cortisol response in the pet-present condition correlated with child-initiated petting and less proximity-seeking behavior.

Conclusions:

• Pet dogs can act as effective social buffers, mitigating psychological stress responses in children.
• The findings suggest that human-animal interactions offer unique socio-emotional benefits for children facing stressors.
• Pet dogs may play a valuable role in supporting children's emotional regulation and well-being.