Understanding how children and their pet dogs form strong social bonds and how these bonds help reduce stress.
Official title: A child's best friend: Behavioral, neural, and endocrinological mechanisms of longitudinal social bond formation and stress buffering effects in children and pet dogs
Funded at Harvard University · NIH-10871680 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This study looks at how kids and their pet dogs become closer over time and how that special bond can help kids feel healthier and happier, by checking their feelings and stress levels after getting a dog.
Quick facts
| Grant type | Fellowship grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Harvard University NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Cambridge, United States) |
| Project start | July 1, 2023 |
| Project end | November 19, 2026 |
| Funding year | 2024 |
| Award (this year) | $73,828 |
| NIH project number | 5F32HD111327-02 |
| Project ID | NIH-10871680 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates for this research are children aged 0-11 years who have recently adopted a pet dog.
✕Less likely to help
Patients who do not have a pet dog or are not within the specified age range may not benefit from this research.
What this research studies
This research investigates the development of social bonds between children and their pet dogs over time, focusing on how these bonds can positively impact child health and wellbeing. The study will measure the strength of these bonds at four different time points after a dog is adopted, using behavioral tasks and biological samples to assess changes in oxytocin and cortisol levels. By examining the relationship between social bond strength and brain responses, the research aims to uncover the mechanisms that contribute to the therapeutic effects of pet ownership for children.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this research could enhance our understanding of how pet dogs can support children's emotional health and development.
How similar studies have gone: Previous research has shown promising results regarding the benefits of pet ownership on child development, making this study a valuable continuation of that work.
Where this research is happening
-
Harvard University
Cambridge, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Reilly, Olivia Tomeo — Harvard University
- Study coordinator: Reilly, Olivia Tomeo
About this research
- This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
- Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
- For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page.