Understanding the impact of dog ownership on autistic adults: implications for mental health and suicide prevention.

Researchers interviewed 36 autistic adults who own dogs to understand how pets affect their mental health. One in six said their dog prevented them from suicide, mainly because of the dog's love and their responsibility to care for it. Activities like cuddling and walking helped improve mood and daily life most. Some challenges included dog behavior problems and health issues. Overall, having a dog appeared to help many autistic adults' wellbeing and could be important for preventing suicide.

This qualitative study interviewed 36 autistic dog owners across the UK to understand how dog ownership impacts mental health and wellbeing. The research found that 16.7% of participants reported their dogs prevented suicide attempts, primarily through the dog's affection and caregiving responsibilities. Close interactions like cuddling and walking most frequently improved emotions and daily functioning, while routine activities enhanced life functioning specifically. Negative impacts included behavioral problems, health issues, and caregiving obligations.

The study developed a framework of wellbeing outcomes that was consistent with previous research in general populations, suggesting dog-related activities rather than ownership per se drive wellbeing benefits.

Results suggest animal-assisted interventions could support mental health in autistic adults, particularly for suicide prevention. Focus on specific dog-related activities rather than general ownership may optimize therapeutic benefits. Clinicians should consider pet ownership as a protective factor when assessing suicide risk.

Small sample size (n=36) limits generalizability. Qualitative design prevents causal conclusions. Self-reported data may be subject to bias. UK-specific sample may not apply to other populations. No comparison group without dogs to establish relative benefits.

Mental health problems and suicide are more frequent in autistic adults than general population. Dog ownership can improve human well-being. This study aimed to generate a framework of well-being outcomes for dog-related activities in autistic adults and compare it to the framework generated for a general adult population. Thirty-six autistic dog owners (18-74 years old, 18 males) from diverse UK regions were interviewed and transcripts thematically analysed. 16.7% reported that their dogs prevented them from taking their own lives, mainly due to the dog's affection and the need to care for the animal.

Close dog-owner interactions (e.g., cuddling, walking, dog's presence) were the most frequent activities improving emotions/moods and life functioning, whereas routine-like activities (e.g., feeding the animal) particularly enhanced life functioning. Well-being worsening was mainly linked to dog behaviour problems, dog poor health/death and obligations to the dog. Despite some negatives associated with ownership, having a dog could improve the well-being of many autistic adults and assist suicide prevention strategies in this high-risk group. The framework was consistent with that generated previously, indicating its robustness and the potential opportunity to focus on dog-related activities rather than the vague concept of "ownership" when considering the impact of ownership on well-being.