New research explores the reciprocal and dynamic effects of autism assistance dogs on the whole family.

Autism assistance dogs, which are trained to support the independence of individual children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD), can be a lifeline to struggling families. The benefits of these assistance dogs on children with ASD include better sleep patterns, increased social connectedness and reduced problem behaviours. However, little was known about the impact of autism assistance dogs on the whole family unit until recently.

The collaboration between French and Canadian researchers investigated the dynamic and reciprocal benefits that autism assistance dogs had not only on the child with ASD, but also the wider family unit. Employing a more systemic perspective, the study delved into the relationship between the child’s ASD symptoms and parental wellbeing and parenting style, as well as the influence of the child-dog bond.

A novel systemic approach

The study included 20 parent-child with ASD pairs who were followed before and after (3 & 6 months) the integration of an autism assistance dog. At all three time points, parents completed an online survey which captured the child’s ASD symptoms, parents stress and anxiety, parenting style, and the relationship between dog and child.

The results revealed that children’s ASD symptoms and parents’ anxiety decreased after the integration of an autism assistance dog into their households. Interestingly, these findings were related, so the more the child’s ASD symptoms reduced, the more the parent’s anxiety and stress reduced, which then in turn impacted their parenting strategies. It was also observed that the quality of the child-dog relationship contributed to both the children’s ASD symptoms and parental stress and anxiety.

Study implications

This study represents the first quantitative investigation into the reciprocal benefits of autism assistance dogs on the whole family, including parenting strategies. The findings show that improvements in the child’s ASD symptoms lead to reduced parental stress and anxiety, which in turn lead to adaptations in their parenting style which may in turn lead to further improvements in the child’s ASD symptoms. However, these positive changes rely on the quality of the relationship the child has with the dog, emphasising the important of the human-animal bond.

Key study findings:

•  Children’s ASD symptoms and parents’ anxiety significantly reduced following assistance dog integration
• A positive feedback loop meant that the more children’s ASD symptoms decreased, the more their parent’s anxiety and stress decreased
• The quality of the child-dog relationship influenced children’s ASD symptoms and parents’ wellbeing.