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The Effect of Dog-Assisted Intervention on Student Well-Being, Mood, and Anxiety

Author

Listed:
  • Dasha Grajfoner

    (Department of Psychology, Heriot Watt University, Edinburgh EH14 4AS, UK)

  • Emma Harte

    (Department of Psychology, Heriot Watt University, Edinburgh EH14 4AS, UK)

  • Lauren M. Potter

    (Department of Psychology, Heriot Watt University, Edinburgh EH14 4AS, UK)

  • Nicola McGuigan

    (Department of Psychology, Heriot Watt University, Edinburgh EH14 4AS, UK)

Abstract

This novel, exploratory study investigated the effect of a short, 20 min, dog-assisted intervention on student well-being, mood, and anxiety. One hundred and thirty-two university students were allocated to either an experimental condition or one of two control conditions. Each participant completed the Warwick–Edinburgh Mental Well-Being Scale (WEMBS), the State Trait Anxiety Scale (STAI), and the UWIST Mood Adjective Checklist (UMACL) both before, and after, the intervention. The participants in the experimental condition interacted with both the dogs and their handlers, whereas the control groups interacted with either the dog only, or the handler only. The analyses revealed a significant difference across conditions for each measure, with those conditions in which a dog was present leading to significant improvements in mood and well-being, as well as a significant reduction in anxiety. Interestingly, the presence of a handler alongside the dog appeared to have a negative, and specific, effect on participant mood, with greater positive shifts in mood being witnessed when participants interacted with the dog alone, than when interacting with both the dog and the handler. These findings show that even a short 20 min session with a therapy dog can be an effective alternative intervention to improve student well-being, anxiety, and mood.

Suggested Citation

  • Dasha Grajfoner & Emma Harte & Lauren M. Potter & Nicola McGuigan, 2017. "The Effect of Dog-Assisted Intervention on Student Well-Being, Mood, and Anxiety," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 14(5), pages 1-9, May.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jijerp:v:14:y:2017:i:5:p:483-:d:97673
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    Citations

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    Cited by:

    1. Fletcher-Hildebrand, Shaneice & Williamson, Linzi & Lawson, Karen & Dell, Colleen, 2023. "Remotely and collaboratively evaluating a campus-based therapy dog program during the COVID-19 pandemic," Evaluation and Program Planning, Elsevier, vol. 98(C).
    2. Cathrin Rothkopf & Silke Schworm, 2021. "Exploring Dog-Assisted Interventions in Higher Education: Students’ Attitudes and Perceived Effects on Well-Being," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(9), pages 1-18, April.
    3. Kristýna Machová & Radka Procházková & Mariana Vadroňová & Michaela Součková & Eliška Prouzová, 2020. "Effect of Dog Presence on Stress Levels in Students under Psychological Strain: A Pilot Study," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 17(7), pages 1-12, March.
    4. Kaori Endo & Syudo Yamasaki & Shuntaro Ando & Takefumi Kikusui & Kazutaka Mogi & Miho Nagasawa & Itsuka Kamimura & Junko Ishihara & Miharu Nakanishi & Satoshi Usami & Mariko Hiraiwa-Hasegawa & Kiyoto , 2020. "Dog and Cat Ownership Predicts Adolescents’ Mental Well-Being: A Population-Based Longitudinal Study," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 17(3), pages 1-11, January.
    5. Joanna M. Blodgett & Jack M. Birch & Margherita Musella & Frances Harkness & Aradhna Kaushal, 2022. "What Works to Improve Wellbeing? A Rapid Systematic Review of 223 Interventions Evaluated with the Warwick-Edinburgh Mental Well-Being Scales," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(23), pages 1-27, November.
    6. Charlotte Parbery-Clark & Marvellas Lubamba & Louise Tanner & Elaine McColl, 2021. "Animal-Assisted Interventions for the Improvement of Mental Health Outcomes in Higher Education Students: A Systematic Review of Randomised Controlled Trials," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(20), pages 1-43, October.
    7. Joanne M. Williams & Jillian Bradfield & Andrew Gardiner & Patricia Pendry & Laura Wauthier, 2024. "Co-Producing Paws on Campus: A Psychoeducational Dog-Facilitated Programme for University Students Experiencing Mental Health Difficulties," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 21(8), pages 1-21, August.
    8. Patricia Pendry & Alexa M. Carr & Nancy R. Gee & Jaymie L. Vandagriff, 2020. "Randomized Trial Examining Effects of Animal Assisted Intervention and Stress Related Symptoms on College Students’ Learning and Study Skills," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 17(6), pages 1-18, March.
    9. Nicole Peel & Kathy Nguyen & Caterina Tannous, 2023. "The Impact of Campus-Based Therapy Dogs on the Mood and Affect of University Students," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 20(6), pages 1-14, March.
    10. Daniele Giansanti & Mariacristina Siotto & Laura Parisi & Irene Aprile, 2022. "Pet Presence Can Reduce Anxiety in the Elderly: The Italian Experience during COVID-19 Lockdown Assessed by an Electronic Survey," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(10), pages 1-12, May.

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