ABSTRACT
The role of pets in supporting children’s mental health and well-being has attracted growing attention. Although pets are often described as emotionally significant companions—offering comfort, security and stability—the effects of pet ownership are not universally positive or consistent. This scoping review maps existing research on the significance of pets for children’s well-being, particularly those experiencing mental health challenges. Drawing on 20 studies—quantitative, qualitative and mixed-methods—published across diverse cultural contexts, the review identifies three central themes: emotional support and friendship; responsibility, routine and family; and psychosocial well-being. Findings suggest that the emotional quality of the child-pet relationship, rather than pet ownership alone, is key to potential benefits such as reduced stress and enhanced resilience. The review underscores the importance of context-sensitive understandings of well-being. Pets may be valuable allies in children’s mental health, but their role should be understood as part of broader social contexts. Contextual factors including age, gender, species of pet and socio-economic environment may influence the outcomes. However, strong reliance on pets can also reflect or reinforce social isolation. Limitations include a small evidence base focused largely on high-income countries and a lack of studies centring children’s own perspectives. Further research is needed to explore how children across varied settings experience relationships with pets, and how these connections might inform support strategies in social work and mental health care.