Wag Therapy: Emotional Support Animals for ADHD
Spending time with dogs alleviates stress and anxiety, according to a new study and the experience of ADDitude readers who say their pets lift their spirits, inspire exercise, and provide snuggles when they need it most.
Dogs are the furry, feel-good antidote to stress, anxiety, and a downbeat mood — an almost universal conclusion now confirmed by science.
Spending time with our four-legged family members improves our mental health and well-being more than some other activities, Hannah Raila, Ph.D., co-author of a new study on human-animal relationships, told ADDitude. The study, “The Influence of Interactions with Pet Dogs on Psychological Distress,” was published in the journal Emotion and involved 73 adults between the ages of 25 and 77 and their dogs. 1
In a conversation with ADDitude, Raila discussed the research.
Why did you decide to do this study? What were you hoping to learn?
Human-animal interaction has always seemed promising for reducing distress, but many studies are correlational — they found that pet owners were happier without concluding cause and effect. They couldn’t rule out the possibility that happier people were simply more likely to get pets. So, we wanted to run a study where people who felt distressed would be randomly assigned to spend time with their pet. That way, if we saw some mood benefit, we could conclude that the time with the pet dog was actually causing the owner to feel better — and this is indeed what we found.
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Did any findings surprise you?
I was surprised that the owners’ self-reported attitudes toward animals and the bond with their dogs didn’t predict how spending time with their pets affected their mood. We found that all participants who interacted with their dogs following exposure to a stressful task showed greater positivity and reductions in anxiety than those who waited for a set amount of time or those who used a coloring book to ease stress.
What were the biggest takeaways from the study?
The biggest takeaway is that pet dogs improve mood, which supports the direct psychological benefit of pet dogs and has implications for the benefit of emotional support animals. When a dog owner feels upset, turning to their pet may reduce their distress in the moment.
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The Dogs of ADDitudeReaders shared how their pets lift their spirits, inspire exercise, and provide snuggles when they need it most. This boy seems to know exactly what people need. He is so cuddly and funny! Thank you, universe, for sending Chester to us. |
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My dog is a natural healer. She heals everyone she comes in contact with. |
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My furry soulmate, Copper, motivates me every morning to get up and get started on our routine. He gives the best snuggles and kisses during hard times. |
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Mickey O’Malley seems to know when my anxiety is up. He’ll step on my foot, lean into me, and start licking my hand until I pet him. He is the bestest boy ever. |
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Maple has been my cheerleader. Her energetic, always happy personality has helped me through many difficult times. If not for her, I would have spent many days stuck in my bed. |
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Ruby is my adventure girl. We go hiking and to the beach. She knows when I am anxious, and gently offers regulating interaction. Caring for her needs helps me to structure my day, and to prioritize my own care. Time spent exercising with her adds productive hours to my days. |
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This is Yzma. She’s aggressively social and has zero survival instincts. |
Looking for More Dogs?
Hundreds of ADDitude readers shared photos of their emotional support animals at additu.de/dogs.
Emotional Support Animals for ADHD: Next Steps
- Read: ADHD and Pet Therapy
- Read: Equine Therapy for ADHD
- Download: Rate How Well You Handle Stress
- Listen: “Mindfulness and Self-Regulation Strategies for Children with ADHD”
Hannah Raila, Ph.D., is an assistant teaching professor in the psychology department at the University of California Santa Cruz.
Carole Fleck is Editor-in-Chief at ADDitude.
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Source
1Matijczak, A., Yates, M.S., Ruiz, M.C., Santos, L.R., Kazdin, A.E., Raila, H. (2023). The Influence of Interactions with Pet Dogs on Psychological Distress. Emotion. https://doi.org/10.1037/emo0001256
