Companion Animals and Adolescent Stress and Adaptive Coping During the COVID-19 Pandemic.

ABSTRACT: The COVID-19 pandemic has resulted in significant social disruptions for youth caused by lockdowns, school closures, and a lack of in-person social interactions. Companion animals are prevalent in US households and may provide a source of emotional support and motivation for youth to engage in adaptive coping behaviors during social challenges. The goals of this study were to assess if dog owners, non-dog pet owners, and non-pet owners differed in stress levels, positive affect, and use of adaptive coping strategies such as increased time outdoors, regular walking, and healthy behaviors. This study used data collected during the COVID-19 pandemic from the Adolescent Brain Cognitive Development^SM (ABCD) Study, a large, nationally representative dataset of American youth. In a cro

SUBMITTER: Mueller MK 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC9662752 | biostudies-literature | 2022

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature