Human-animal interactions are increasingly recognized for their role in emotional regulation, particularly in children. A 2018 study published in Social Development tested whether the presence of a pet dog influences preadolescents’ emotional responses to a standardized stress task.
The research team, led by Kathryn A. Kerns, randomly assigned 99 children to complete the Trier Social Stress Test, a task designed to induce social stress, either with or without their pet dog present. Throughout the session, children rated their positive and negative affect, and researchers measured high-frequency heart rate variability (HF-HRV) as a physiological indicator of emotional regulation.
The findings revealed that children accompanied by their dogs reported significantly higher positive affect than those without their pets. While no group differences were found for negative affect or HF-HRV, the presence of dogs clearly enhanced children’s emotional experience of the stressful situation. Moreover, children who engaged in more physical contact with their dogs at baseline reported the greatest positive affect, underscoring the importance of tactile interaction.
These results suggest that pet dogs provide a unique source of emotional support for children, particularly in stressful contexts. By enhancing positive affect, dogs may help children develop resilience and healthier coping mechanisms in challenging social situations. The study highlights the valuable role of dog-child relationships in promoting emotional wellbeing during key developmental stages.
Source: Kerns, K. A., Stuart-Parrigon, K. L., Coifman, K. G., Dulmen, M. V., & Koehn, A. J., Social Development, February 1, 2018. https://doi.org/10.1111/sode.12251
