Assistance dogs improve mental health for disabled young people, say Sheffield researchers

Using surveys and interviews with disabled people aged between 18 and 35-years-old who are partnered with an assistance dog, the researchers found 86 per cent felt more optimistic thanks to their canine helper.

Over 90 per cent of those surveyed reported feeling less lonely, with 88 per cent saying they felt less anxiety and 86 per cent less isolated.

Assistance dogs were also said to boost confidence for 90 per cent of participants, with some young people saying they helped them to navigate social situations and allowed them to embrace their disability.

Senior Research Fellow at the University of Sheffield, Dr Kirsty Liddiard, said: “Our research makes clear the transformative impact an assistance dog can have on a disabled young person’s life – increasing their independence, building their confidence and helping them to embrace who they are.

“In the future, we would like to see policymakers, local authorities and care professionals making all young people with physical impairments aware of the possibilities and benefits of canine care.”

Over two-thirds of disabled young people said that, since getting their assistance dog, they relied less on support from their carers – with 81 per cent saying the assistance dogs had reduced the discomfort and guilt they feel when relying on carers.

Sally Whitney, a disabled young co-researcher on the project, said: “Leading the project has been an honour and a joy as it is a topic that is incredibly important to me. It was because of my own experiences of being a disabled young person and having my assistance dog, Ethan, that meant I was so keen to work on the project.

“This has given me the impetus to probe further into the experiences of other young people and the results have shown an even deeper level of impact than I had anticipated.

“It is clear that assistance dogs do so much more than physical tasks and have a transformational impact on how young people receive care and, in turn, on so many aspects of their lives.”