Effects of Pet Therapy on the Psychological and Physiological Stress Levels of First-Year Female Undergraduates

Animals, especially pets, are a source of support and comfort for many people (Cirulli, Borgi, Berry, Francia, & Alleva et al., 2011). A variety of medical organizations are interested in researching the psychological and physiological health benefits of the human-pet bond through animal-assisted programs (Palley, O'Rourke & Niemi, 2012). These programs are applied to a range of populations, including elderly persons with dementia, autistic children, and drug addicts, and in a range of settings such as hospitals, schools, and prisons (Cirulli et al., 2011; Palley et al., 2012). Psychological and physiological benefits of animal-assisted interventions include improvement in depression, loneliness, blood pressure (BP), and stress (Krause-Parello, Tychowski, Gonzalez, & Boyd, 2012; Walsh, 2009). Animals, through emotional attachment and physical contact, are capable of stimulating the release of neurotransmitters (e.g., oxytocin, endorphins) that promote relaxation, inner-peace, self-esteem, nurturing, and overall well-being (Nagasawa et al., 2015; Pugliese, Famulari & Britti, 2010). Interventions using dogs, cats, and other social animals have proven to be useful with children. For example, the incorporation of animal-assisted therapy (AAT) in treatment plans that had specific intervention or education goals contributed to positive psychosocial development and emotional stability of children. Therapy animals are thought to be perceived as non-judgmental participants by children and to provide unique avenues of support during the treatment process (Friesen, 2010). Based on positive results from studies in a variety of treatment settings, the use of AAT and animal-assisted activities (AAA) gained international recognition with animal-assisted intervention programs expanding in several countries (Palley et al. 2012). Despite these findings, animal-assisted programs have not impressed many medical and mental health professionals because of inconsistencies in results among studies, lack of standardization in the types of human-animal interactions used, and limited, heterogeneous sample populations (Herzog, 2011; Palle et al., 2012). To generate more valid data, studies are needed in which a standardized intervention with measurable effects is applied to a homogeneous population. Use of homogeneous populations allows researchers to determine impacts of animal-assisted interventions on specific target groups while reducing potentially confounding factors (e.g., age, gender). Results from better-designed research will be useful in identifying the utility of AAA or AAT as a relatively inexpensive means of alleviating stress in target populations. For example, stress is a significant health concern on university campuses with over 50% of undergraduates reporting greater than average stress within the past 12 months (ACHA, 2014). Self-report data from surveys showed significant relationships between stress and altered sleep patterns, depression (Brooks, Girgenti, & Mills, 2009), illness (Matheny, Ashby, & Cupp, 2005) and use of health services (Roddenberry & Renk, 2010). Universities typically maintain a counseling center and provide health services, both of which are subject to increases in national health care costs. If rigorous studies of AAT and AAA provide evidence of stress-reduction, then animal-assisted programs might provide effective tools for improving the health of students and other at-risk populations. Importantly, on-campus animal-assisted programs can reduce costs (Castellano, 2015) because pettherapy groups (e.g., Therapy Dogs International, Pet Partners) typically volunteer their services for target organizations (e.g., hospitals, schools) and do not directly involve trained medical personnel. In our research, we focused on impacts of AAA on levels of physiological and psychological stress in university students, specifically first-year women. Of many populations studied, university students have some of the highest levels of stress, with first-year women having the highest stress within the population (Araas, 2008; Weinstein & Lavenghetta, 2009). …