Abstract
The use of therapy dogs on college campuses has increased dramatically in the last decade. The current study will examine the impact of interaction between canines and college students during an exam period to determine any impact on perceived stress and cognitive functioning. It was hypothesized that following a brief interaction with a canine, participants would report lower levels of state anxiety and higher levels of sustained attention than participants in a control condition. Fifty-six students from Nova Southeastern University participated in exchange for course credit or a gift card. Participants were randomly assigned to a canine interaction or control group. Participants in the canine interaction condition interacted with a therapy dog for approximately ten minutes. Multiple regression analysis suggested that both condition and having a dog at home were significant predictors of perceived stress (R2=.15, F (2, 51) = 4.53, p < .05) and state anxiety (R2=.14, F (2, 48) = 3.98, p < .05).Specifically, interaction between participants and canines, either during the study or at participant’s homes predicted lower levels of perceived stress and state anxiety. However, interaction with a canine did not appear to predict higher levels of sustained attention or speed of processing in the current study. This study provides the first empirical evidence for a beneficial effect of interaction between canines and college students as a method to reduced perceived stress and anxiety during examination periods.
Faculty Sponsors
Dr. Jonathan Banks
Project Type
Event
Location
Alvin Sherman Library
Start Date
4-8-2016 1:00 PM
End Date
4-8-2016 5:30 PM
Does Canine Interaction Impact A College Students' Stress and Anxiety Levels During Exam Time?
Alvin Sherman Library
The use of therapy dogs on college campuses has increased dramatically in the last decade. The current study will examine the impact of interaction between canines and college students during an exam period to determine any impact on perceived stress and cognitive functioning. It was hypothesized that following a brief interaction with a canine, participants would report lower levels of state anxiety and higher levels of sustained attention than participants in a control condition. Fifty-six students from Nova Southeastern University participated in exchange for course credit or a gift card. Participants were randomly assigned to a canine interaction or control group. Participants in the canine interaction condition interacted with a therapy dog for approximately ten minutes. Multiple regression analysis suggested that both condition and having a dog at home were significant predictors of perceived stress (R2=.15, F (2, 51) = 4.53, p < .05) and state anxiety (R2=.14, F (2, 48) = 3.98, p < .05).Specifically, interaction between participants and canines, either during the study or at participant’s homes predicted lower levels of perceived stress and state anxiety. However, interaction with a canine did not appear to predict higher levels of sustained attention or speed of processing in the current study. This study provides the first empirical evidence for a beneficial effect of interaction between canines and college students as a method to reduced perceived stress and anxiety during examination periods.
