The presence of a dog attenuates cortisol and heart rate in the Trier Social Stress Test compared to human friends

Abstract

Limited research has addressed how social support in the form of a pet can affect both sympathetic and hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal reactivity in response to a psychological challenge. The present study examined the effects of social support on salivary cortisol and heart rate (HR). Forty-eight participants were randomly assigned to three different conditions (human friend, novel dog, or control). All participants completed the Trier Social Stress Test and provided cortisol, HR, and State-Trait Anxiety Inventory measures. For participants paired with a dog, overall cortisol levels were attenuated throughout the experimental procedure, and HR was attenuated during the Trier Social Stress Test. For all groups, state anxiety increased after the Trier Social Stress Test, and HR during the Trier Social Stress Test was a predictor of cortisol. These results suggest that short-term exposure to a novel dog in an unfamiliar setting can be beneficial. They also suggest a possible mechanism for the beneficial effect associated with affiliation with pets.

The Effect of an Animal-Assisted Intervention on Physiological Measures of Stress and Anxiety in Graduate Professional Physical Therapy Students

“…A study by Cole et al [31] found that patients hospitalized with advanced heart failure who received a visit from a therapy dog had lower cardiopulmonary pressures, neurohormone levels and state anxiety levels compared to patients who received a visit from a volunteer without a dog and the control group, however despite these changes in cardiopulmonary pressures, there were no significant differences found in heart rate, blood pressure, cardiac index and systemic vascular resistance. [31] These findings vary from those of Friedmann et al [24], Allen et al [25], and Polheber & Matchock [26] who found reductions in blood pressure [24] [25] [47] and heart rate [25] [26] in otherwise healthy populations when interacting with a dog.…”

“…In a similar study by Polheber & Matchock [26] examining 85 undergraduate students, heart rate, anxiety and cortisol levels were recorded during a social stressor by comparing three conditions: a novel dog in a laboratory condition, a supportive friend and no social support. The researchers found that non-human social support in the form of a dog served to attenuate salivary cortisol levels and heart rate when compared to the friend (human social support) and control (no social support) conditions [26].…”

Older Adults and Pets—Physical and Psychological Benefits

“…Conclusions of this study suggested that even when the perceived relationship quality is similar for pet dogs and close friends, dogs may provide more cardiovascular benefits during and after a stressful event (Campo and Uchino 2013). As one final example, a study by Polheber and Matchock (2014) found that the presence of a novel dog during a socially stressing event can positively impact participants' heart rate and cortisol response. Similar to results reported by Campo (2013), this study found that the presence of the dog reduced salivary cortisol levels even more than when participants were accompanied by a friend or alone (Polheber and Matchock 2014).…”

A New Understanding of Man’s Best Friend: A Proposed Contextual Model for the Exploration of Human–Animal Interaction Among Insecurely Attached Males

“…Increase in oxytocin level is important in human health, as oxytocin may be a mechanism for the stress-buffering effects of social support (Heinrichs et al 2003). There is also evidence for HAI decreasing the stress hormone cortisol even in short-term exposure to a dog (Polheber and Matchock 2014).…”