Megan K Mueller
Biographic Data
| ID | 182437 |
|---|---|
| NAME | Megan K Mueller |
| GIVEN NAMES | Megan K |
| FAMILY NAME | Mueller |
| SIGNATURE | MUELLER M K |
| AFFILIATIONS | Tufts University |
| ORCID | 0000-0001-9058-0894 |
| VERIFIED | Yes |
| TOTAL WORKS | 31 |
| TOTAL CITATIONS | 51 |
| AUTHOR COUNT | 31 |
| EDITOR COUNT | 0 |
| FIRST PUBLICATION YEAR | 2011 |
| LATEST PUBLICATION YEAR | 2026 |
| H-INDEX | 4 |
Black Americans and animals
Background : Black Americans’ relationships with animals are shaped by intertwined histories of enslavement, racialized violence, and cultural resilience, yet these dynamics remain largely unexamined in human–animal interaction research. This qualitative study explored how Black Americans understand, experience, and interpret human–animal relationships within historical, cultural, and structural contexts. Methods : Thirty-one adults identifying a…
An Idiographic, Mixed Methods Approach to Understanding Adolescent-Dog Relationships in the Context of Social Anxiety
Social anxiety is prevalent among adolescents, however there is limited research examining how adolescents with social anxiety can be supported in coping adaptively with stressors. In particular, close relationships with dogs may provide regulation and support in this context. The objective of this study is to use an idiographic, mixed methods approach to explore adolescent–dog relationships in real-life contexts. We present four illustrative cas…
A relational developmental theory of human-animal interaction
Real-world experiences of youth-animal coaction support an RDS paradigm for understanding animals’ role in youth development. • Established human-centric models of youth development should be expanded to include youth-animal coactions. • Qualitatively different animal experiences are theorized to shape the course of the coaction and its impacts on youth and animal wellbeing. • Continued research needs to identify processes of change that may unde…
A pilot randomized controlled trial to examine the impact of a therapy dog intervention on loneliness in adult patients hospitalized in a psychiatric unit
clinicaltrials.gov identifier, NCT05089201
Promoting youth social-emotional development through animal-assisted interventions
Animal-assisted interventions (AAI) are increasingly used in clinical and school settings to promote psychological and social-emotional well-being among youth. However, the precise role of youth-animal relationships in shaping developmental trajectories is understudied. Research is needed to expand human-centric models of child development, specifically to examine how youth relationships with animals may be ecological assets and identify potentia…
Measuring social and emotional functioning as a facet of positive youth development among children and adolescents in special education and mental health treatment
This study assessed the validity of a set of social and emotional functioning constructs derived from the PYD short form (PYD‐SF) measure within a sample of children and adolescents with one or more mental health diagnoses related to social, emotional, or behavioral challenges. Using repeated measures design, responses to the PYD‐SF and the Social‐emotional assets and resilience scale were collected over two years from 369 students enrolled in sp…
Feasibility of using ecological momentary assessment to measure the effects of interactions with pet dogs on psychophysiological reactivity in adolescents with social anxiety
Adolescence is a key developmental period for the onset of social anxiety, as it is a time of social transitions and stressors. Therefore, it is important to identify protective factors within the environment that can prevent and/or reduce the effects of social anxiety in addition to existing evidence-based treatments. The presence of a supportive pet dog may be one way of reducing the effects of acute social stressors for youth, but these effect…
Navigating pathways for careers in human-animal interaction
This article is intended to help academic faculty and advisors mentor students who are interested in entering the field of human-animal interaction. Even though the field has grown significantly in the last several decades, there is still much confusion over how to obtain a degree that will lead to a career in human-animal interaction. The interdisciplinary nature of the field poses both advantages and disadvantages and can sometimes be overwhelm…
Profiles of family pet ownership during the Covid-19 pandemic
Testing of the Facial Expression Coding System (Faces) for middle school–aged special education students and development of a training protocol
Emotion regulation is a key developmental skillset, but many existing measures rely on self-report or laboratory-based measurement approaches. This study aimed to develop a training and implementation protocol for the widely used Facial Expression Coding System (FACES) to be used in real-world settings with pre-recorded video data. A revised coding system with supplemental guidelines and training procedures was developed to use FACES with video d…
Companion animals and profiles of peer social behavior in adolescence
INTRODUCTION: Relationships with companion animals have been associated with higher levels of prosocial behavior and lower levels of socioemotional difficulties for children and adolescents. Companion animals may be supportive of developing prosocial behavior in youth through practice with positive social interactions and the development of empathy and reciprocity skills. The goal of this study was to use a person-centered approach to investigate…
Longitudinal associations between pet relationship quality and socio‐emotional functioning in early adolescence
Adolescence is a key developmental period for socio-emotional skills, and companion animal relationships may be one potential source of emotional support and resilience during this time. This study used longitudinal data from 940 pet-owning adolescents, collected over four time points, from youth in the Northeastern United States. We assessed whether pet relationship quality (indexed by relationship satisfaction, companionship, and emotional disc…
Companion animals and the relationship between peer victimization and emotion regulation in youth
Peer victimization can negatively impact emotion regulation in youth and is associated with harmful mental health outcomes. One protective factor against the impacts of peer victimization is a strong attachment to family and positive peer relationships. Given that pets are commonly seen as family members and that youth report turning to their pet for emotional comfort, companion animals could provide an avenue of support for youth experiencing vi…
Companion Animals and Adolescent Stress and Adaptive Coping During the Covid-19 Pandemic
The COVID-19 pandemic has resulted in significant social disruptions for youth caused by lockdowns, school closures, and a lack of in-person social interactions. Companion animals are prevalent in US households and may provide a source of emotional support and motivation for youth to engage in adaptive coping behaviors during social challenges. The goals of this study were to assess if dog owners, non-dog pet owners, and non-pet owners differed i…
The Role of Pet Companionship in Online and Offline Social Interactions in Adolescence
Animal-Assisted Interventions as an Adjunct to Therapy for Youth
A Systematic Review of Research on Pet Ownership and Animal Interactions among Older Adults
Human-animal interaction as a social determinant of health
The findings from this study could indicate a relationship between pet ownership and depression, but it is impossible to determine the directionality of that relationship. It is possible that owning a pet may put a person at an increased risk of developing depression, or individuals who are at risk, or who have already developed depression, may acquire a pet as a way of managing their depressive symptoms. The findings of this study provide an ini…
Introduction to Applied Developmental Science spotlight series
Human-Animal Interaction as a Context for Positive Youth Development
Human-animal relationships are both ubiquitous and diverse across the life span, and may be especially salient among children and adolescents. Although research into youth involvement in human-animal interaction (HAI) is growing, existing data have not adequately explored the developmental processes associated with HAI. The purpose of this article is to discuss why relational developmental systems models, which explore bidirectional influences be…
Is Human-Animal Interaction (HAI) Linked to Positive Youth Development? Initial Answers
Human-animal relationships are ubiquitous and diverse across the life span and may be especially salient among children and adolescents. However, there is little information regarding whether human-animal interaction (HAI) is actually linked to young people's positive development in normative, nontherapeutic settings. Therefore, the purpose of this study was to explore if and how HAI may be linked to positive youth development (PYD) using data fr…
Human–Animal Interaction as a Context for Thriving and Coping in Military-Connected Youth
There are close to two million children who have parents serving in the United States military. Youth in military families face unique challenges, such as stress about family deployment. Nevertheless, many military-connected youth also exhibit strength and resilience in the face of these challenges. Therefore, it is critical to identify useful resources that are available for youth in military-connected families that may promote such resilience, …
Fostering Youth Entrepreneurship
Entrepreneurship offers a viable and proven pathway to economic growth and personal fulfillment. However, the number of individuals engaged in entrepreneurial behaviors remains low. This discrepancy between entrepreneurial attitudes and action underscores the need for programs that foster the development of entrepreneurship in today's youth. We argue that a relational developmental systems approach can help researchers understand and facilitate t…
Understanding Entrepreneurial Intent in Late Adolescence
Longitudinal Analysis of a Very Short Measure of Positive Youth Development
Creation of Short and Very Short Measures of the Five Cs of Positive Youth Development
As developmental scientists seek to index the strengths of adolescents and adopt the positive youth development ( PYD ) perspective, psychometrically sound measurement tools will be needed to assess adolescents’ positive attributes. Using a series of exploratory factor analyses and CFA models, this research creates short and very short versions of the scale used to measure the Five Cs of PYD in the 4‐ H S tudy of P ositive Y outh D evelopment. We…
Activity Involvement as an Ecological Asset
Longitudinal Analysis of a Very Short Measure of Positive Youth Development
The Relationship between Types of Human-Animal Interaction and Attitudes about Animals
Existing theory and research suggests that understanding the nuances of particular instantiations of human–animal relationships is important in promoting positive, mutually beneficial relationships between people and animals. One such aspect of human–animal interaction (HAI) involves species of animal involved in the relationship, and how various types of HAI may impact individuals' attitudes about animals. Therefore, the purpose of this study wa…
Fostering Youth Entrepreneurship
Entrepreneurship offers a viable and proven pathway to economic growth and personal fulfillment. However, the number of individuals engaged in entrepreneurial behaviors remains low. This discrepancy between entrepreneurial attitudes and action underscores the need for programs that foster the development of entrepreneurship in today's youth. We argue that a relational developmental systems approach can help researchers understand and facilitate t…
Longitudinal associations between pet relationship quality and socio‐emotional functioning in early adolescence
Adolescence is a key developmental period for socio-emotional skills, and companion animal relationships may be one potential source of emotional support and resilience during this time. This study used longitudinal data from 940 pet-owning adolescents, collected over four time points, from youth in the Northeastern United States. We assessed whether pet relationship quality (indexed by relationship satisfaction, companionship, and emotional disc…
Understanding Entrepreneurial Intent in Late Adolescence
Positive Youth Development
Using the tripartite conception of positive youth development (PYD) suggested by Hamilton (1999) – as a developmental process, a philosophy or approach to youth programming, and as instances of youth programs and organizations focused on fostering the healthy or positive development of youth – we review different theoretical models of the developmental process involved in PYD. In addition, we review the ideas for and the features of youth develop…
Positive Youth DevelopmentThe preparation of this article was supported in part by grants from the National 4‐H Council and the Thrive Foundation for Youth.
Using the tripartite conception of positive youth development (PYD) suggested by Hamilton (1999)—as a developmental process, a philosophy or approach to youth programming, and as instances of youth programs and organizations focused on fostering the healthy or positive development of youth—we review different theoretical models of the developmental process involved in PYD. In addition, we discuss the ideas for and the features of youth developmen…
Comparing Alternate Approaches to Calculating Reliability for Dichotomous Data
Estimating reliability for scales or factors is an essential data analysis step in much of the research in developmental science. In this article, we demonstrate the importance of using the appropriate statistical method and underlying correlation matrix to estimate reliability for dichotomous data that represent a normally-distributed latent factor. We used an example case of three waves of adolescent data collected from responses to the Selecti…
Creation of Short and Very Short Measures of the Five Cs of Positive Youth Development
As developmental scientists seek to index the strengths of adolescents and adopt the positive youth development ( PYD ) perspective, psychometrically sound measurement tools will be needed to assess adolescents’ positive attributes. Using a series of exploratory factor analyses and CFA models, this research creates short and very short versions of the scale used to measure the Five Cs of PYD in the 4‐ H S tudy of P ositive Y outh D evelopment. We…
Human-Animal Interaction as a Context for Positive Youth Development
Human-animal relationships are both ubiquitous and diverse across the life span, and may be especially salient among children and adolescents. Although research into youth involvement in human-animal interaction (HAI) is growing, existing data have not adequately explored the developmental processes associated with HAI. The purpose of this article is to discuss why relational developmental systems models, which explore bidirectional influences be…
Is Human-Animal Interaction (HAI) Linked to Positive Youth Development? Initial Answers
Human-animal relationships are ubiquitous and diverse across the life span and may be especially salient among children and adolescents. However, there is little information regarding whether human-animal interaction (HAI) is actually linked to young people's positive development in normative, nontherapeutic settings. Therefore, the purpose of this study was to explore if and how HAI may be linked to positive youth development (PYD) using data fr…
Human–Animal Interaction as a Context for Thriving and Coping in Military-Connected Youth
There are close to two million children who have parents serving in the United States military. Youth in military families face unique challenges, such as stress about family deployment. Nevertheless, many military-connected youth also exhibit strength and resilience in the face of these challenges. Therefore, it is critical to identify useful resources that are available for youth in military-connected families that may promote such resilience, …
Fostering Youth Entrepreneurship
Entrepreneurship offers a viable and proven pathway to economic growth and personal fulfillment. However, the number of individuals engaged in entrepreneurial behaviors remains low. This discrepancy between entrepreneurial attitudes and action underscores the need for programs that foster the development of entrepreneurship in today's youth. We argue that a relational developmental systems approach can help researchers understand and facilitate t…
Understanding Entrepreneurial Intent in Late Adolescence
Longitudinal Analysis of a Very Short Measure of Positive Youth Development
Activity Involvement as an Ecological Asset
The Relationship between Types of Human-Animal Interaction and Attitudes about Animals
Existing theory and research suggests that understanding the nuances of particular instantiations of human–animal relationships is important in promoting positive, mutually beneficial relationships between people and animals. One such aspect of human–animal interaction (HAI) involves species of animal involved in the relationship, and how various types of HAI may impact individuals' attitudes about animals. Therefore, the purpose of this study wa…
Introduction to Applied Developmental Science spotlight series
Human-animal interaction as a social determinant of health
The findings from this study could indicate a relationship between pet ownership and depression, but it is impossible to determine the directionality of that relationship. It is possible that owning a pet may put a person at an increased risk of developing depression, or individuals who are at risk, or who have already developed depression, may acquire a pet as a way of managing their depressive symptoms. The findings of this study provide an ini…
A Systematic Review of Research on Pet Ownership and Animal Interactions among Older Adults
The Role of Pet Companionship in Online and Offline Social Interactions in Adolescence
Animal-Assisted Interventions as an Adjunct to Therapy for Youth
Companion Animals and Adolescent Stress and Adaptive Coping During the Covid-19 Pandemic
The COVID-19 pandemic has resulted in significant social disruptions for youth caused by lockdowns, school closures, and a lack of in-person social interactions. Companion animals are prevalent in US households and may provide a source of emotional support and motivation for youth to engage in adaptive coping behaviors during social challenges. The goals of this study were to assess if dog owners, non-dog pet owners, and non-pet owners differed i…
Feasibility of using ecological momentary assessment to measure the effects of interactions with pet dogs on psychophysiological reactivity in adolescents with social anxiety
Adolescence is a key developmental period for the onset of social anxiety, as it is a time of social transitions and stressors. Therefore, it is important to identify protective factors within the environment that can prevent and/or reduce the effects of social anxiety in addition to existing evidence-based treatments. The presence of a supportive pet dog may be one way of reducing the effects of acute social stressors for youth, but these effect…
Navigating pathways for careers in human-animal interaction
This article is intended to help academic faculty and advisors mentor students who are interested in entering the field of human-animal interaction. Even though the field has grown significantly in the last several decades, there is still much confusion over how to obtain a degree that will lead to a career in human-animal interaction. The interdisciplinary nature of the field poses both advantages and disadvantages and can sometimes be overwhelm…
Profiles of family pet ownership during the Covid-19 pandemic
Testing of the Facial Expression Coding System (Faces) for middle school–aged special education students and development of a training protocol
Emotion regulation is a key developmental skillset, but many existing measures rely on self-report or laboratory-based measurement approaches. This study aimed to develop a training and implementation protocol for the widely used Facial Expression Coding System (FACES) to be used in real-world settings with pre-recorded video data. A revised coding system with supplemental guidelines and training procedures was developed to use FACES with video d…
Companion animals and profiles of peer social behavior in adolescence
INTRODUCTION: Relationships with companion animals have been associated with higher levels of prosocial behavior and lower levels of socioemotional difficulties for children and adolescents. Companion animals may be supportive of developing prosocial behavior in youth through practice with positive social interactions and the development of empathy and reciprocity skills. The goal of this study was to use a person-centered approach to investigate…
Longitudinal associations between pet relationship quality and socio‐emotional functioning in early adolescence
Adolescence is a key developmental period for socio-emotional skills, and companion animal relationships may be one potential source of emotional support and resilience during this time. This study used longitudinal data from 940 pet-owning adolescents, collected over four time points, from youth in the Northeastern United States. We assessed whether pet relationship quality (indexed by relationship satisfaction, companionship, and emotional disc…
Companion animals and the relationship between peer victimization and emotion regulation in youth
Peer victimization can negatively impact emotion regulation in youth and is associated with harmful mental health outcomes. One protective factor against the impacts of peer victimization is a strong attachment to family and positive peer relationships. Given that pets are commonly seen as family members and that youth report turning to their pet for emotional comfort, companion animals could provide an avenue of support for youth experiencing vi…
Psychology (26 works) · Developmental psychology (22 works) · Human-Animal Interaction Studies (19 works) · Social Psychology (12 works) · Youth Development and Social Support (10 works) · Clinical Psychology (9 works) · Computer Science (9 works) · Medicine (9 works) · Positive Youth Development (9 works) · Social Psychology (9 works)