Could a pet help a child with autism? An exploratory study led by a faculty member in the University of Kansas School of Health Professions sought to answer that question by examining the benefits of animal-assisted therapies for children with autism. Children in the study ranged in age from 6 to 11 and had been diagnosed with mild, moderate or severe autism.
“I wanted to quantify the effects of animal ownership on children with autism spectrum disorder,” said Caitlin Lisk, Ph.D., co-author of the study and adjunct professor in the Department of Occupational Therapy Education at KU School of Health Professions. “I wanted to study the children in their own homes and understand the long-term effects of pet ownership.” Lisa Mische Lawson, Ph.D., professor in the Department of Occupational Therapy Education, co-authored the article, which appeared in the journal Society & Animals.
Previous studies have examined human-animal interactions in clinical settings or when animals are being trained to assist children with sensory challenges. Lisk wanted to see if there was a quantifiable benefit to pets in the home.
Using a coding tool developed by Maggie O’Haire, Ph.D., associate dean for research at the University of Arizona College of Veterinary Medicine, Lisk was able to quantitatively analyze the interactions between children and pets in the home. The tool measures emotional displays, communication, social behaviors and problematic behaviors within the human-animal interaction, and then it calculates a score to quantify the interactions between the person and the animal.
“This is the first study to ever use that tool with this population,” Lisk said. “The problem is the tool was not built for neurodivergent children, as it puts higher values on pro-social behaviors.” Hand flapping seen in children with autism would be considered overstimulation and seen as a negative within the tool, rather than as happiness or excitement. “So, we had to reinterpret and code their actions with that in mind.”
The study also faced challenges related to COVID-19 health protocols, which forced Lisk to modify plans to observe children in person. Instead, parents of the children in the study used their cell phones to record how the children interacted with their pets. Lisk viewed the footage in 10-second increments, and behaviors in those increments were coded using the tool.
“I wanted to see what their normal day looks like,” Lisk said, “without using any stimuli that would be abnormal during their routines.” In addition to sharing the recordings of their children, parents shared their views on animal ownership for their neurodivergent child, based on what was most important to them.
Sherpa, had seen studies examining interactions between
animals and children in clinical settings. Those prompted
her to pursue quantifying the impact of pets in the home.
“The type, breed, size and temperament of animals are very important criteria for families because they wanted to make sure it was a good relationship for the child,” Lisk said. Overall, the cost and care-taking responsibilities were coded as negatives, but parents emphasized that owning an animal was comforting and calming for their children.
One of the primary goals for pet ownership is using it to increase a child’s development, teaching things like responsibility and empathy. “While you can demonstrate empathy using a sibling, it’s not the same as with an animal who is unable to tell you they don’t like their fur pulled,” said Lisk.
Overall, the study found that children with the most severe autism had the lowest human-animal interaction scores, while children with moderate autism had the highest — even higher than those with mild disorder. This suggests a need for further studies. Age was strongly associated with higher touch, gesture and affection scores, suggesting these children may develop better interactions with animals as they get older.
The researchers plan to expand the study to include more children and perhaps investigate how companion animals could be used in other specific populations, such as those with HIV. “Animal ownership may help with things like medicine adherence, increased activity and relief from depression,” Lisk said.
link