A Pilot Study Assessing the Effectiveness of an Animal-Assisted Outreach Program

Stewart, Leslie; Dispenza, Franco; Parker, Lindy K.; Chang, Catherine Y.; Cunnien, Taffey

doi:10.1080/15401383.2014.892862

Cited by 59 publications

(38 citation statements)

References 17 publications

Supporting

Mentioning

Contrasting

Order By: Relevance

“…A randomised control trial with students stressed by an examination period reported significant decreases in perceived stress after 15 min with a dog, although there were no changes in salivary cortisol levels (Barker et al, 2016). Similarly, studies have found university students report lower levels of anxiety and loneliness following engagement with a therapy dog, along with improvements in the perception and accessibility of counselling services (Daltry & Mehr, 2015;Stewart et al, 2014). Interacting with a dog for seven to ten minutes led to significant reductions in state anxiety as measured by the STAI, no change was observed in the control conditions .…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

The feasibility of brief dog-assisted therapy on university students stress levels: the PAwS study

Wood

Ohlsen

Thompson

et al. 2017

Journal of Mental Health

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Background: Pet therapy is becoming increasingly popular and is used in a variety of ways from encouraging communication in older adults to improving wellbeing in those with serious mental illness. Increasingly Universities have been offering pet therapy to students in an effort to reduce stress. However, little evidence currently exists to support the effectiveness of reducing measurable stress levels after a standalone drop-in unstructured session. The University of Sheffield's Counselling Service works in partnership with Guide Dogs for the Blind to give students access to calm, well-trained animals for informal group stress relief. Aims: To assess the feasibility of implementing and evaluating unstructured group interventions with a Guide Dog in training within the university student population. Methods: One hundred and thirty-one students who attended pet therapy at the University Counselling Service were recruited on a voluntary basis to take part in the research. Stress, measured on the state trait anxiety inventory, and blood pressure were taken before and after a 15-min intervention. Results: All measures showed a statistically significant reduction immediately after the intervention. Conclusion: Short interactions with a Guide Dog in training appear to reduce stress in University students. A controlled study is required to investigate further.

show abstract

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

The feasibility of brief dog-assisted therapy on university students stress levels: the PAwS study

Wood

Ohlsen

Thompson

et al. 2017

Journal of Mental Health

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

show abstract

“…Counselors can meet the needs of many students through the use of groupbased interventions, which have been found to be useful when addressing interpersonal concerns, anxiety, and depression (Boldt & Paul, 2011). One such intervention gaining popularity on college campuses is group-based animal-assisted therapy, which introduces trained therapeutic animals into counseling sessions (Stewart, Dispenza, Parker, Chang, & Cunnien, 2014). Peer-based social support groups have also been found to decrease levels of loneliness in college students, given that they may provide these students with the opportunity to increase their supportive connections (Mattanah et al, 2012).…”

Section: Implications For College Counselorsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Trauma and Dissociation: Predictors of Loneliness in Students at an Urban University

Kearney

Zeligman

Brack

et al. 2018

J of College Counseling

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Loneliness is often seen in college students as they leave established support networks and family. Loneliness is also associated with negative mental health outcomes, including depression and decreased life satisfaction. The authors explored relationships between trauma, dissociation, and loneliness, and assessed the predictive ability of trauma and dissociation on feelings of loneliness. Hierarchical regression analyses indicated that trauma experience and dissociation significantly predicted loneliness in the current sample (n = 429). Implications for counseling are discussed.

show abstract

“…A recent study finds that AAT visits help college students feel less anxious and lonely (Stewart, Dispenza, Parker, Chang, & Cunnien, 2014). A recent study finds that AAT visits help college students feel less anxious and lonely (Stewart, Dispenza, Parker, Chang, & Cunnien, 2014).…”

Section: Scholarly Researchmentioning

confidence: 99%

Loss of a Therapy Animal

Cohen

2015

Handbook on Animal-Assisted Therapy

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

A Pilot Study Assessing the Effectiveness of an Animal-Assisted Outreach Program

Cited by 59 publications

References 17 publications

The feasibility of brief dog-assisted therapy on university students stress levels: the PAwS study

The feasibility of brief dog-assisted therapy on university students stress levels: the PAwS study

Trauma and Dissociation: Predictors of Loneliness in Students at an Urban University

Loss of a Therapy Animal

Contact Info

Product

Resources

About