Exploring the usefulness of companion pet ownership in the everyday functioning of children with Autism Spectrum Disorder in the United Arab Emirates: A qualitative focus-group study.
UAE moms say household pets spark language, calm, and motion in kids with ASD.
01Research in Context
What this study did
Kaya et al. (2025) talked with the mothers of kids with ASD in the United Arab Emirates.
They held four small group chats to learn how owning a pet affects daily life.
Mothers shared stories about dogs, cats, rabbits, and birds living at home.
What they found
Mothers said pets helped their children talk more and make eye contact.
Kids felt calmer and had fewer meltdowns when the animal was near.
Families also noticed more running, walking, and outdoor play.
How this fits with other research
Carraro et al. (2012) showed exercise lowers anxiety in adults with ID. Ali’s moms saw the same calm in kids with ASD through pet play.
Chandler et al. (1992) taught self-management to boost social skills. Pet cuddles sparked the same social gains without any lesson plan.
Burrows et al. (2018) gave mice a drug to cut repetitive grooming. Ali’s moms said pets also reduced their children’s repetitive behaviors, matching the mouse data with a living friend instead of a pill.
Why it matters
You can’t write a pet prescription, but you can talk with families about adding a safe animal. Start with a goldfish or a calm cat if parents worry about care. Note social bursts, calm moments, and new movements in your session data. A low-cost, low-risk friend may speed up your intervention goals.
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02At a glance
03Original abstract
PURPOSE: Despite the global recognition of the benefits of companion pet ownership, there is a lack of research exploring this phenomenon in an Arabic-speaking context such as the United Arab Emirates (UAE). This study fills the knowledge gap by exploring the usefulness of pet ownership on the social skills, communication, emotional and physical well-being of children with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) in the UAE. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The study employs a phenomenological research design, utilizing focus-group discussions with 12 mothers of children diagnosed with ASD who own pets. The parents participated in the focus group discussions to understand the usefulness of pet ownership to their children with ASD. RESULTS: Findings are categorized into three primary themes: enhancement of social interaction and communication skills, improvement in emotional well-being, and encouragement of physical activity. For instance, the presence of pets, especially dogs, significantly boosts social engagement and non-verbal communication, reduces anxiety and stress, and increases physical activity among children with ASD. CONCLUSION: Companion pet ownership may inform family-centered routines for children with ASD in the UAE. Future work should assess the feasibility of structured animal-assisted interventions (AAI), which are distinct from household pet ownership.
Research in developmental disabilities, 2025 · doi:10.1016/j.ridd.2025.105154