期刊
JOURNAL OF AUTISM AND DEVELOPMENTAL DISORDERS
卷 53, 期 1, 页码 468-483出版社
SPRINGER/PLENUM PUBLISHERS
DOI: 10.1007/s10803-021-05410-0
关键词
Autism-assistance dogs; Canine assistance; Service dogs; Psychosocial effects; Chronic cortisol concentration; Parent; child stress
This study is the first to examine the effects of Autism-Assistance Dogs (AADs) on children with autism and their families using validated clinical, behavioral, and physiological measures. The results demonstrate significant positive psychosocial and biobehavioral effects of AADs.
Autism-Assistance Dogs (AADs) are highly-skilled service animals trained primarily to ensure the safety of an autistic child by preventing elopement and mitigating 'meltdowns'. Although anecdotal accounts and case-studies have indicated that AADs confer benefits above and beyond safety, empirical support anchored in validated clinical, behavioral, and physiological measures is lacking. To address this gap, we studied children and their families before and after receiving a well-trained AAD using a within-subject, repeated-measures design. Notably, this study is the first to assess change in a biomarker for chronic stress in both autistic children and their parents. Final analyses included pre-/post-AAD data from 11 triads (parent/handler-dog-child) demonstrating significantly positive psychosocial and biobehavioral effects of AADs.
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