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Discover the Surprising Power of Therapy Dogs in Reducing Stress

Discover the Surprising Power of Therapy Dogs in Reducing Stress

Unleashing the Power of Therapy Dogs: A Stress Buffer for University Students

In the realm of stress management, therapy dogs have emerged as unexpected yet effective allies. Recent research, particularly the study titled "The Buffer Effect of Therapy Dog Exposure on Stress Reactivity in Undergraduate Students," sheds light on how these furry companions can significantly buffer stress responses, providing a viable solution for stress management in university settings.

Understanding the Study

Conducted by Fiocco and Hunse at Ryerson University, this study explored whether interaction with a therapy dog could reduce physiological stress responses to a subsequent stressor. Sixty-one university students were randomly assigned to either a therapy dog group or a control group, with stress responses measured using electrodermal activity (EDA) during a stress-inducing task.

Key Findings

The results were compelling. The therapy dog group exhibited significantly lower increases in EDA compared to the control group, indicating that therapy dog exposure effectively buffered the physiological stress response. Interestingly, pet attitudes did not significantly moderate this effect, suggesting that therapy dog programs could be universally beneficial regardless of individual pet attitudes.

Implications for Practitioners

For practitioners in the field of speech-language pathology and beyond, these findings offer valuable insights:

Encouraging Further Research

While this study provides a strong foundation, further research is needed to explore the long-term effects of therapy dog exposure and its application across diverse populations. Practitioners are encouraged to contribute to this growing body of research to refine and expand the use of therapy dogs in stress management.

To read the original research paper, please follow this link: The Buffer Effect of Therapy Dog Exposure on Stress Reactivity in Undergraduate Students.


Citation: Fiocco, A. J., & Hunse, A. M. (2017). The buffer effect of therapy dog exposure on stress reactivity in undergraduate students. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 14(7), 707. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph14070707
Marnee Brick, President, TinyEYE Therapy Services

Author's Note: Marnee Brick, TinyEYE President, and her team collaborate to create our blogs. They share their insights and expertise in the field of Speech-Language Pathology, Online Therapy Services and Academic Research.

Connect with Marnee on LinkedIn to stay updated on the latest in Speech-Language Pathology and Online Therapy Services.

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