Tufts University · BiologyMueller Companionship Lab
Megan Kiely Mueller · Medford, Massachusetts
Research Focus
Dr. Megan Kiely Mueller's lab at Tufts University focuses on understanding how relationships between adolescents and their pet dogs can help young people cope with social anxiety. By exploring the specific dynamics of these relationships, the lab aims to develop effective strategies to support teenagers struggling with mental health issues. The research includes extensive observation and analysis of both behavioral and physiological responses in youth as they interact with their dogs.
dog companionshipsocial anxietyadolescent developmentmental healthadaptive coping strategieslongitudinal studiesfamily dynamicsanxiety disorders
Research Aims
3AIM 01Investigate how different adolescents experience dog relationships and their impact on coping with social anxiety.
AIM 02Examine family dynamics that influence the effectiveness of dog interactions for youth coping with anxiety.
AIM 03Assess the immediate physiological effects of dog interactions on adolescents experiencing anxiety.
Skills the Lab Values
behavioral observationlongitudinal study designdata collection techniquesphysiological measurementintegrated research methodsanimal behavior assessmentqualitative interviewingecological momentary assessment
Output against the department
Publications134bottom 48% of dept.538th of 1,033
this lab
most publishedleast published
Citations3.3kbottom 24% of dept.780th of 1,033
this lab
most citedleast cited
Career totals from OpenAlex, compared against labs that share a department. A department spans everything from one paper to tens of thousands, so bar heights are on a log scale — otherwise the largest lab would flatten every other bar to a line.