Research Center for Human-Animal Interaction, College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Missouri, MO, USA.
Research Center for Human-Animal Interaction, College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Missouri, MO, USA.
J Pediatr Nurs. 2021 May-Jun;58:28-35. doi: 10.1016/j.pedn.2020.11.011. Epub 2020 Dec 6.
The diagnosis of Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) occurs in one in 54 children and companion animals (CA) are common in families of children with ASD. Despite evidence of CA ownership benefits for children with ASD, little is known about cats. The purpose was to explore the impact of shelter cat adoption by families of children with ASD.
This was the first randomized controlled trial of adoption of a temperament screened cat by families of children with ASD. Families assigned to the treatment group adopted a cat and were followed for 18 weeks. Families assigned to the control group were followed for 18 weeks without intervention, then converted to treatment, by adopting a cat and were followed another 18 weeks. Adopted cats were screened using the Feline Temperament Profile to identify a calm temperament. Surveys measured children's social skills and anxiety and parent/child cat bonding.
Our study (N = 11) found cat adoption was associated with greater Empathy and less Separation Anxiety for children with ASD, along with fewer problem behaviors including Externalizing, Bullying and Hyperactivity/Inattention. Parents and children reported strong bonds to the cats.
This exploratory study found introduction of a cat into the home may have a positive impact on children with ASD and their parents. Based on this intial finding, future studies with larger sample sizes are recommended.
If parents of children with ASD are considering cat adoption, health care providers might consider recommending adoption of a cat screened for calm temperament.
自闭症谱系障碍（ASD）的诊断在每 54 名儿童中就有 1 例，而伴生动物（CA）在 ASD 儿童的家庭中很常见。尽管有证据表明 CA 对 ASD 儿童有益，但对猫知之甚少。本研究旨在探讨自闭症儿童家庭领养庇护所猫的影响。
这是第一例针对 ASD 儿童家庭领养经过性格筛选的猫的随机对照试验。分配到治疗组的家庭领养了一只猫，并进行了 18 周的随访。分配到对照组的家庭在没有干预的情况下随访 18 周，然后通过领养一只猫并进行另外 18 周的随访转换为治疗组。领养的猫通过猫性格测试来筛选出性格温和的猫。调查测量了儿童的社交技能和焦虑以及家长/孩子与猫的关系。
我们的研究（N=11）发现，对于 ASD 儿童，养猫与同理心增强和分离焦虑减少有关，同时减少了包括外化问题、欺凌和多动/注意力不集中等行为问题。父母和孩子都报告与猫有很强的联系。
这项探索性研究发现，将猫引入家庭可能对 ASD 儿童及其父母产生积极影响。基于这一初步发现，建议进行更大样本量的未来研究。
如果 ASD 儿童的父母正在考虑养猫，医疗保健提供者可能会考虑推荐领养一只性格温和的猫。
