Dogs can reduce stress, help support learning in kids

BOSTON -- Perhaps "man's best friend" should be called "child's best friend" instead. A new study found dogs can reduce stress in kids and perhaps support learning. Dr. Mallika Marshall explains: 

Researchers in the United Kingdom examined stress hormone levels in school children with and without special needs before and after spending 20 minutes with a trained dog twice a week for four weeks. 

They found that the children who spent time with dogs had lower levels of stress hormones compared to those who didn't interact with the dogs or those who meditated instead. 

Experts say dogs can provide unconditional love, a sense of security, and a distraction from life's stressors. Researchers want to figure out how much time kids should spend with dogs to reap the greatest stress reduction benefits.

Mallika Marshall, MD

Mallika Marshall, MD is an Emmy-award-winning journalist and physician who has served as the HealthWatch Reporter for CBS Boston/WBZ-TV for over 20 years. A practicing physician Board Certified in both Internal Medicine and Pediatrics, Dr. Marshall serves on staff at Harvard Medical School and practices at Massachusetts General Hospital at the MGH Chelsea Urgent Care and the MGH Revere Health Center, where she is currently working on the frontlines caring for patients with COVID-19. She is also a host and contributing editor for Harvard Health Publications (HHP), the publishing division of Harvard Medical School.

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