Three Things to Know
Studies investigating the relationship between adolescents and their pets are scarce. This research aims to address this gap by examining the interplay among pet responsibility, family dynamics, and stress coping strategies.
When queried about their most significant social identities, approximately half of the adolescents surveyed considered “having a pet” an important attribute, ranking just behind “friend” and “hobbies/interest.” Furthermore, spending time with pets was the second most frequently utilized coping strategy for pet owners when stressed, surpassed only by spending time with a close friend.
Interviews revealed that parental expectations regarding pet caretaking responsibilities varied and often did not align with actual practice. This highlights the need for developing appropriate expectations and clearer guidance on suitable pet responsibilities for adolescents across different age groups.
For Dog Welfare Practitioners
This study underscores the importance for dog welfare organizations to precisely identify the target audience for their educational programs, given the distinct ways younger children and adolescents interact with pets. Dog-owning adolescents, in particular, frequently rely on their pets for stress coping while simultaneously becoming more capable of providing pet care. Therefore, dog welfare organizations are uniquely positioned to assist both parents and adolescents in re-evaluating caregiving roles and establishing realistic expectations.
The Full Picture
During the early months of the COVID-19 pandemic, households with children under 18 were significantly more likely to acquire pets. For children and adolescents, pets can serve as companions, sources of support, and even identity markers. Adolescents who identify strongly as pet owners often report emotional connections and social benefits, but this identification can wane over time due to shifting interests, peer influence, or family expectations.
The pandemic altered daily routines and intensified family-pet interactions. Many families, especially those with children and dogs, spent more time together. While pets provided emotional support and helped reduce stress, they also created challenges in households managing work, schooling, and caregiving simultaneously. Families had to renegotiate pet responsibilities, and for some, the absence of extended support networks made these tasks more difficult.
Given limited and outdated research, especially on adolescents’ roles in pet care, this U.S.-based study seeks to understand pet caretaking from both adolescent and parent perspectives. The study, titled “Associations between Pet Care Responsibility, Companion Animal Interactions, and Family Relationships during COVID-19”, investigates the following questions:
- How is pet responsibility linked to family dynamics and adolescent stress coping strategies during the pandemic?
- Are there differences between general pet-owning and specifically dog-owning adolescents?
- How do parents guide adolescents in pet care, and how involved are adolescents?
- How do parents perceive the adolescent-pet bond: as familial or as a chore?
Study Methods
This mixed-method study included both a quantitative survey and a qualitative interview. During Fall 2020, middle (grades 6-8) and early high school (grades 9-10) students from several Northeastern U.S. school districts were recruited to complete the quantitative survey. Separately, parents who expressed interest were invited for qualitative interviews. Interviews explored pet acquisition, emotional attachment, stress coping, pet care responsibilities, and the role of pets in digital/social media use.
Study Results
A total of 567 pet-owning students participated in the survey, with an average age of 13.09 years. The sample was 55% female, 62% White, and 40% qualified for free or reduced lunch. Among these students, 356 reported owning a dog.
On the other hand, interview participants included 28 mothers, 2 fathers, and 1 non-binary parent. Most (68%) were White; 74% owned dogs. Interviews primarily focused on the parent’s middle school-aged child (21 daughters, 10 sons).
As An Identity and Stress Coping Mechanism
A total of 44% of all pet owners ranked having a pet among their top 5 identities, just behind being a friend or having hobbies. When the pet is a dog, adolescents who took on more responsibility were significantly more likely to identify themselves as a pet owner, suggesting a stronger link between caregiving and identity.
Pets also played a vital role in helping adolescents cope with stress. While spending time with close friends remained the top stress coping strategy for most pet owners, dog owners leaned slightly more on their pets than on peers when managing stress. This counters the idea that pets are important to young children only and shows how meaningful animal relationships remain into the teen years.
Family dynamics were also impacted by pet ownership, especially during the COVID-19 pandemic. Around 30% of pet owners reported improved family relationships during this period, with greater adolescent involvement in pet care linked to stronger family bonds. For some families, the pandemic reshaped pet care roles, with remote learning and increased time at home leading adolescents to take on more responsibilities. Many families even acquired new pets during lockdown, viewing the added responsibility as a positive outlet during an uncertain time.
Pet Caretaking Responsibilities
Interviews with parents added depth to these findings. Parental expectations about teen involvement varied widely. Before acquiring pets, some parents had frank conversations with their children about the responsibilities involved, while others were more hands-off. Some parents set clear expectations; others anticipated assuming most of the caregiving themselves. The variation seemed to depend on parents’ beliefs about their children’s maturity and the practical needs of the household.
In reality, some adolescents volunteered enthusiastically, taking initiative and treating pet care as second nature. Others completed a mix of assigned and voluntary tasks, while some only participated when prompted by chore charts. A few adolescents were reluctant caregivers, seeing tasks like cage cleaning as unpleasant obligations.
As such, some parents were surprised by their children’s initiative, while others had higher hopes but were disappointed. This mismatch highlights a need for realistic expectations and clearer guidance about what types of pet responsibilities are suitable for teens at different ages. Providing education on species-specific needs may also help families plan better when acquiring pets.
Many parents hoped that pet care would foster responsibility and empathy in their children. Some allowed adolescents to learn through experience—both positive and negative—about the consequences of neglecting pet duties. Others encouraged empathy by prompting their children to understand their pet’s perspective, reinforcing the emotional and moral importance of caretaking.
The emotional bond between adolescents and their pets also emerged as a strong theme. Many teens saw their pets as full-fledged family members — some even referred to them as siblings or surrogate children. These bonds were not only affectionate but also reciprocal; pets were seen comforting adolescents, and vice versa. For some, this deep connection provided crucial emotional support during the pandemic and in everyday life, especially for those who struggled socially.
Conclusion
This study sheds new light on the adolescent experience of pet ownership by combining perspectives from both adolescents and their parents—something rarely explored, especially in the context of pet caretaking responsibilities. While earlier research has often emphasized children’s emotional bonds with pets, this study focused on how adolescents see themselves as pet owners and how their caretaking roles shape that identity and affect family dynamics.
The pandemic created a unique context for this relationship. Many families experienced stronger bonds during lockdown, especially when adolescents took on a bigger share of pet caretaking. Although it’s unclear whether stronger family relationships caused this increase in responsibility—or vice versa—the findings highlight the potential for pet care to support family cohesion.
Dog ownership, in particular, seemed to foster stronger emotional connections and a greater sense of responsibility among adolescents compared to ownership of other animals like guinea pigs or hamsters. Dogs, in many cases, provided a unique source of comfort, companionship, and even confidence for teens, shaping not just their daily routines but also their emotional lives and identities.
Miscellaneous
Data From Study:
Owned Dogs > What Dogs Bring > Benefits to Children
Year of Publication:
2022
External Link:
Charmaraman L, Kiel E, Richer AM, Gramajo A, Mueller MK. Associations between Pet Care Responsibility, Companion Animal Interactions, and Family Relationships during COVID-19. Animals (Basel). 2022;12(23):3274. Published 2022 Nov 24. https://doi.org/10.3390/ani12233274