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Observing Live Fish Improves Perceptions of Mood, Relaxation and Anxiety, But Does Not Consistently Alter Heart Rate or Heart Rate Variability

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  • Nancy R. Gee

    (Department of Psychology, State University of New York, Fredonia, NY 14063, USA
    WALTHAM Centre for Pet Nutrition, Leicestershire LE14 4RT, UK
    Department of Psychiatry, School of Medicine, Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, VA 23298-0710, USA)

  • Taylor Reed

    (Department of Psychology, State University of New York, Fredonia, NY 14063, USA)

  • April Whiting

    (Department of Psychology, State University of New York, Fredonia, NY 14063, USA)

  • Erika Friedmann

    (School of Nursing, University of Maryland, Baltimore, MD 21201, USA)

  • Donna Snellgrove

    (WALTHAM Centre for Pet Nutrition, Leicestershire LE14 4RT, UK)

  • Katherine A. Sloman

    (Institute of Biomedical and Environmental Health Research, School of Health and Life Sciences, University of the West of Scotland, Paisley PA1 2BE, UK)

Abstract

Although fish and other aquatic species are popular privately-kept pets, little is known about the effects of watching live fish on the perceptions of arousal and the link between those perceptions and physiological measures of arousal. In two separate experiments, participants were asked to watch identically-equipped fish tanks for five minutes in each of three conditions: (1) Live fish, (2) plants and water, and (3) empty tank. Linear mixed models used across both experiments revealed similar results: Greater perceptions of relaxation and mood, and less anxiety during or after viewing the live fish condition, compared with the other conditions. Heart rate and heart rate variability responded to the arousal associated with a math task, but did not differ consistently across viewing conditions. These results suggest that the link between perceptions of arousal, and the physiological measures associated with arousal, may not be strong or immediate, or that heart rate and heart rate variability may not be appropriate measures for the test population. Implications of these results for the biophilia hypothesis and the biopsychosocial model are discussed.

Suggested Citation

  • Nancy R. Gee & Taylor Reed & April Whiting & Erika Friedmann & Donna Snellgrove & Katherine A. Sloman, 2019. "Observing Live Fish Improves Perceptions of Mood, Relaxation and Anxiety, But Does Not Consistently Alter Heart Rate or Heart Rate Variability," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 16(17), pages 1-15, August.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jijerp:v:16:y:2019:i:17:p:3113-:d:261287
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Eleonora Gullone, 2000. "The Biophilia Hypothesis and Life in the 21st Century: Increasing Mental Health or Increasing Pathology?," Journal of Happiness Studies, Springer, vol. 1(3), pages 293-322, September.
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    Cited by:

    1. Aubrey H. Fine, 2020. "The Psycho-Social Impact of Human-Animal Interactions," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 17(11), pages 1-4, June.

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