Uploaded November 2022 | Updated September 2026, 1 week ago
Watch Gray Atherton, PhD's presentation "They ask no questions and pass no criticism: A mixed-methods study exploring pet ownership in autism."
Free certificates of participation are available upon successful completion of a brief knowledge quiz at: autism.org/pet-ownership-and-autism
Gray Atherton, PhD, has a BSc in Child Development from Vanderbilt University, a Master’s in Counselling from University of Houston, and a Ph.D. in Educational Psychology and Individual Differences from University of Houston. She has previously lectured at University of Houston and the University of Wolverhampton. Prior to entering academia, Gray was a counselor for adolescents with neurodevelopmental conditions.
00:00 - Intro
0:59 – Agenda
1:55 – Introduction and context
3:31 – Theory behind animal connections and autism
5:15 – Eye gazing serotonin feedback loops
7:02 – Visual cues in animal interactions
8:58 – Mixed methods approach and study outlines
10:39 – Study: Autistic vs. non-autistic pet ownership survey
15:11 – Equal animal attachment across groups
17:15 – Pet attachment and mental health in autism
17:34 – Study: Real-life applications for pet contact
18:40 – Themes from research
19:25 – Sensory benefits
20:31 – Companionship
21:08 – Judgment
22:56 – Social lubricant
24:37 – Barriers
26:33 – Responsibility as a breakthrough
27:43 – Challenges
29:00 – Ideas, solutions, and future directions
30:54 – Volunteerism
32:09 – Mentoring
33:25 – Ways to start
36:25 – Presentation summary
37:26 – Research team
38:06 – Q & A
Watch Gray Atherton, PhD's presentation "They ask no questions and pass no criticism: A mixed-methods study exploring pet ownership in autism."
Free certificates of participation are available upon successful completion of a brief knowledge quiz at: autism.org/pet-ownership-and-autism
Gray Atherton, PhD, has a BSc in Child Development from Vanderbilt University, a Master’s in Counselling from University of Houston, and a Ph.D. in Educational Psychology and Individual Differences from University of Houston. She has previously lectured at University of Houston and the University of Wolverhampton. Prior to entering academia, Gray was a counselor for adolescents with neurodevelopmental conditions.
00:00 - Intro
0:59 – Agenda
1:55 – Introduction and context
3:31 – Theory behind animal connections and autism
5:15 – Eye gazing serotonin feedback loops
7:02 – Visual cues in animal interactions
8:58 – Mixed methods approach and study outlines
10:39 – Study: Autistic vs. non-autistic pet ownership survey
15:11 – Equal animal attachment across groups
17:15 – Pet attachment and mental health in autism
17:34 – Study: Real-life applications for pet contact
18:40 – Themes from research
19:25 – Sensory benefits
20:31 – Companionship
21:08 – Judgment
22:56 – Social lubricant
24:37 – Barriers
26:33 – Responsibility as a breakthrough
27:43 – Challenges
29:00 – Ideas, solutions, and future directions
30:54 – Volunteerism
32:09 – Mentoring
33:25 – Ways to start
36:25 – Presentation summary
37:26 – Research team
38:06 – Q & A
