scholarly journals Incorporating Human–Animal Interaction Into Academic Stress Management Programs: Effects on Typical and At-Risk College Students’ Executive Function

AERA Open ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 7 ◽  
pp. 233285842110116
Author(s):  
Patricia Pendry ◽  
Alexa M. Carr ◽  
Jaymie L. Vandagriff ◽  
Nancy R. Gee
Keyword(s):  
At Risk ◽  
Academic Success ◽  
At Risk Students ◽  
Academic Failure ◽  
Evidence Based ◽  
Stress Prevention ◽  
Human Animal ◽  
Human Animal Interaction ◽  
Animal Interaction ◽  
Intent To Treat

Implementation of university-based animal-assisted stress-prevention programs is increasing despite limited knowledge about impacts on students’ academic success. This randomized trial (N = 309) examined the effects of a 4-week stress-prevention program with varying levels of human–animal interaction (HAI) and evidence-based content presentations on students’ executive functioning (EF). Effects were examined while considering the moderating role of students’ risk status (N = 121), based on history of academic failure, suicidal ideation, mental health, and learning issues. Intent-to-treat analyses showed that at-risk students showed the highest levels of EF (Β = 4.74, p = .018) and metacognition (Β = 4.88, p = .013) at posttest in the condition featuring 100% HAI, effects that remained 6 weeks later (ΒGlobal EF = 4.48, p = .028; ΒMetacognition = 5.31,p = .009). Since evidence-based content presentations did not confer benefits for at-risk students’ EF, even when offered in combination with HAI, universities should consider providing at-risk students with targeted programs emphasizing exposure to HAI.

scholarly journals Randomized Trial Examining Effects of Animal Assisted Intervention and Stress Related Symptoms on College Students’ Learning and Study Skills

2020 ◽  
Vol 17 (6) ◽  
pp. 1909
Author(s):  
Patricia Pendry ◽  
Alexa M. Carr ◽  
Nancy R. Gee ◽  
Jaymie L. Vandagriff
Keyword(s):  
College Students ◽  
At Risk ◽  
Stress Management ◽  
At Risk Students ◽  
Academic Stress ◽  
Risk Status ◽  
Human Animal ◽  
Human Animal Interaction ◽  
Animal Interaction

Animal Visitation Programs (AVPs) targeting college students’ stress and academic success have increased, despite limited research on academic outcomes. This randomized controlled trial (N = 349) examined the effects of incorporating levels of Human–animal Interaction (HAI) (0%, 50% or 100%) with therapy dogs in a four-week academic stress management program. Conditions included (1) Academic Stress Management (ASM) content only (0% HAI), (2) Human–animal Interaction only (100% HAI) and (3) equal combinations of ASM content and HAI (50% HAI). Intention-to-treat (ITT) analyses examined the effects of students’ risk status (N = 146; depression, anxiety, perceived stress, worry) and treatment condition on students’ learning and study strategies at posttest and follow-up. The results showed interactions between condition and risk status demonstrating higher posttest levels of WILL (i.e., anxiety, attitude, motivation) (Β = 0.582, p = 0.005) and SELFREGULATION (i.e., concentration, self-testing, study aids, time management) (Β = 0.501, p = 0.031) for at-risk students receiving equal combinations of HAI and content presentations. Moderation effects remained at follow-up (Β = 0.626, p = 0.005; Β = 0.630, p = 0.007). At-risk students receiving only HAI (100%) also showed higher levels of WILL at posttest (Β = 0.481, p = 0.021) and follow up (Β = 0.490, p = 0.038). University administrators should consider providing at-risk students with targeted programs with varying levels of HAI and ASM content, depending on the targeted academic outcome.

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

2019 ◽  
Vol 16 (18) ◽  
pp. 3331 ◽  
Author(s):  
Patricia Pendry ◽  
Stephanie Kuzara ◽  
Nancy R. Gee
Keyword(s):  
Stress Management ◽  
Prevention Program ◽  
Behavioral Change ◽  
Academic Stress ◽  
Perceived Usefulness ◽  
Evidence Based ◽  
Stress Prevention ◽  
Human Animal ◽  
Human Animal Interaction ◽  
Animal Interaction

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.

The influence of positive human-animal interaction during rearing on the approach behaviour of young dairy heifers

2001 ◽  
Vol 2001 ◽  
pp. PC09-PC09 ◽  
Author(s):  
C. Bertenshaw ◽  
P. Rowlinson
Keyword(s):  
At Risk ◽  
Close Contact ◽  
Modern Management ◽  
Dairy Heifers ◽  
Positive Treatment ◽  
Human Animal ◽  
Dairy Heifer ◽  
Human Animal Interaction ◽  
Animal Interaction ◽  
Regular Contact

Modern management of dairy heifers leads to lack of familiarisation with humans. Consequently when the dairy heifer calves and enters the milking herd in close contact with humans whom she innately fears, her productivity and welfare are at risk. The rearing period has potential for shaping the heifers experiences of people prior to the regular contact of milking where productivity can suffer and behaviour be disruptive. This experiment was to determine if positive treatment reduced fear of humans and if so if heifers generalise this response to other humans. The results will be used in further analysis relating to subsequent measures of behaviour, production and welfare associated with milking.

Increasing Academic Success Among Disadvantaged, At-Risk Students: The U-Pace Model

2009 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jessica Barnack ◽  
Raymond Fleming ◽  
Rodney Swain ◽  
Laura Pedrick ◽  
Diane M. Reddy
Keyword(s):  
At Risk ◽  
Academic Success ◽  
At Risk Students

scholarly journals The Influence of Human–Animal Interactions on Mental and Physical Health during the First COVID-19 Lockdown Phase in the U.K.: A Qualitative Exploration

2021 ◽  
Vol 18 (3) ◽  
pp. 976 ◽  
Author(s):  
Emily Shoesmith ◽  
Lion Shahab ◽  
Dimitra Kale ◽  
Daniel S. Mills ◽  
Catherine Reeve ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Online Survey ◽  
Positive Impact ◽  
Companion Animals ◽  
Free Text ◽  
Physical And Mental Health ◽  
Human Animal ◽  
Human Animal Interaction ◽  
Animal Interaction ◽  
The Impact

The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic presents an opportunity to explore the role of animals as sources of emotional and physical support during a period when most of the population is experiencing social and environmental challenges. We investigated how companion animal owners perceived the influence of human–animal interaction on their physical and mental health during the first COVID-19 lockdown phase in the U.K., and what concerns they had regarding their animals at this time. We also explored the impact of participants’ interaction with non-companion animals during this phase. A cross-sectional online survey of U.K. residents aged over 18 was conducted between April and June 2020. The final item of the survey invited open-ended free-text responses, allowing participants to describe any experiences and/or perceptions of their human–animal relationships during the COVID-19 lockdown phase. A qualitative thematic analysis of responses was undertaken. Four main themes related to the following aspects of human–animal interactions during the COVID-19 lockdown phase were identified: the positive impact of animal ownership during the COVID-19 lockdown (e.g., amelioration of wellbeing and mental health), concerns relating to animal ownership during the COVID-19 lockdown (e.g., concerns over animals carrying the COVID-19 virus), grief and loss of an animal during the COVID-19 lockdown and the impact of engaging with non-companion animals during the COVID-19 lockdown. The findings complement and extend previous insights into the impact of human–animal interaction with both companion and non-companion animals. They also highlight the challenges of caring for an animal during the lockdown phase and indicate the need to consider the development of further targeted support strategies, such as “day care” for the companion animals of key workers in this context.

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