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Evaluation of Undergraduate Students’ Responsiveness to a 4-Week University-Based Animal-Assisted Stress Prevention Program

Author

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  • Patricia Pendry

    (Department of Human Development, College of Agricultural, Human, and Natural Resource Sciences (CAHNRS), Washington State University, Pullman, WA 99164, USA)

  • Stephanie Kuzara

    (Department of Human Development, College of Agricultural, Human, and Natural Resource Sciences (CAHNRS), Washington State University, Pullman, WA 99164, USA)

  • Nancy R. Gee

    (Center for Human-Animal Interaction, School of Medicine, Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, VA 23298, USA)

Abstract

An increase in the prevalence of stress among college students is compromising their mental health and academic success. One approach to stress prevention that has seen a surge in implementation is the use of university-based Animal Visitation Programs (AVPs). Despite their popularity and promising causal findings, program evaluations on students’ responsiveness (e.g., enjoyment, attendance, perceptions on usefulness and behavioral change) have yet to be conducted. Using a mixed methods approach, this study reports results of a program evaluation embedded in a randomized controlled trial examining the efficacy of incorporating various levels (0%, 50% or 100%) of Human Animal Interaction (HAI) into a four-week long university-based stress prevention program resulting in three conditions: (1) Evidence-based Academic Stress Management content only (0% HAI), (2) Human Animal Interaction with therapy dogs only (100% HAI) and (3) equal combinations of Academic Stress Management and HAI (50% HAI). Responsiveness (e.g., enjoyment, usefulness, recommendation and behavioral change) was assessed quantitatively and qualitatively using self-reported survey data collected immediately following the program and again six weeks later. The results suggest that combining evidence-based content presentations with HAI was associated with higher levels of enjoyment, perceived usefulness, and likelihood of recommendation compared to presenting content presentation or HAI alone, although doing so did not result in differences in perceived behavioral change by condition. Themes of students’ perceptions on the role of HAI in shaping program enjoyment, usefulness, recommendations and behavioral change were described.

Suggested Citation

  • Patricia Pendry & Stephanie Kuzara & Nancy R. Gee, 2019. "Evaluation of Undergraduate Students’ Responsiveness to a 4-Week University-Based Animal-Assisted Stress Prevention Program," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 16(18), pages 1-16, September.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jijerp:v:16:y:2019:i:18:p:3331-:d:265821
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Alexis Dinno, 2015. "Nonparametric pairwise multiple comparisons in independent groups using Dunn's test," Stata Journal, StataCorp LP, vol. 15(1), pages 292-300, March.
    2. Eisenberg Daniel & Golberstein Ezra & Hunt Justin B, 2009. "Mental Health and Academic Success in College," The B.E. Journal of Economic Analysis & Policy, De Gruyter, vol. 9(1), pages 1-37, September.
    3. Glasgow, R.E. & Lichtenstein, E. & Marcus, A.C., 2003. "Why Don't We See More Translation of Health Promotion Research to Practice? Rethinking the Efficacy-to-Effectiveness Transition," American Journal of Public Health, American Public Health Association, vol. 93(8), pages 1261-1267.
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    Cited by:

    1. 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.
    2. Aubrey H. Fine, 2020. "The Psycho-Social Impact of Human-Animal Interactions," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 17(11), pages 1-4, June.
    3. 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.
    4. 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.

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