Measurement of salivary cortisol in children typically developing and with special needs during dog-assisted activities

Background
Animal-assisted interventions (AAI) have gained increasing attention as complementary methods to support children’s emotional and physical well-being. These interventions, particularly dog-assisted activities (DAA), may help foster engagement and motivation in children with different needs. While some research suggests that interacting with dogs can reduce stress markers like cortisol in adults, far fewer studies have examined these effects in pediatric populations, including children with special needs such as cerebral palsy (CP) and autism spectrum disorder (ASD). Salivary cortisol measurement is a non-invasive, widely used method for assessing hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis activity and stress responses.

Aims
This study aimed to determine whether participation in dog-assisted activities affects morning salivary cortisol levels in children who are typically developing and children diagnosed with CP or ASD.

Material and methods
Forty-six children (18 typically developing, 14 with CP, and 14 with ASD) underwent eight weekly sessions (30– 45 minutes each) over two months, either with a dog (DAA) or in dog-free sessions. Parents collected morning saliva samples before and after the first and eighth session. Cortisol concentrations were assessed via the electrochemiluminescence (ECLIA) method, and statistical comparisons were made within and between groups.

Results
Measured salivary cortisol concentrations in all groups were within the normal range and showed no change between the measurements at the beginning and the end of the series of activities. There were no statistically significant differences in the salivary cortisol concentration of children participating in the activities with the dog as compared to the group with the same diagnosis but participating in activities without a dog.

Conclusions
Dog-assisted activities, as implemented here, neither elevated nor reduced morning salivary cortisol in typically developing children or those with CP or ASD. These findings suggest that, under these conditions, dog-assisted sessions do not pose a physiological stress risk, though they also did not produce measurable stress-buffering effects. Further research with larger samples and additional stress or behavioral indicators may help clarify whether and how dog-assisted interventions can best support children’s well-being