Stressed out? Stroke an animal for natural relief

By Dr. Beth Leermakers

Interacting with animals can be good for your physical and mental health. Studies have shown that petting a dog or cat lowers blood pressure and reduces stress. Several research studies have demonstrated the stress reducing benefits of interacting with dogs, cats and even horses. 

As a horse person, I swear by the relaxing effects of grooming a horse — especially brushing his tail. The dirtier I get, the calmer and happier I feel. 

Research on Human/Animal Interactions

Petting a therapy dog enhances thinking skills of stressed college students. Researchers at Washington State University recently examined the impact of petting therapy dogs on cognitive functioning in college students. They measured executive functioning — the skills you need to plan, organize, motivate, concentrate and memorize — in 309 stressed out college students. 

The students were randomly assigned to one of three 4-week stress management programs: 

1. Academic Stress Management (ASM): lecture-type workshops that focused on relaxation techniques, replacing negative self-talk with positive self-talk and skills training (e.g., time management, study planning).  

2. Human-Animal Interaction only (HAI-O) sessions: students engaged in animal assisted activities, such as petting therapy dogs or participating in meditation or relaxation activities with the dogs present. 

3. Enhanced human–animal interaction condition (HAI-E): animal assisted activities and shorter versions of the ASM workshops. 

Results showed significant improvements in global Executive Function (EF) and metacognition for students who only interacted with the therapy dogs (the HAI-O group), compared with the students who received the traditional stress management training (ASM group). The HAI-O students still demonstrated better thinking skills six weeks after completing the program. Interestingly, students who engaged only in human-animal interaction also had significantly higher levels of executive function than students who participated in stress management workshops as well as interacting with the therapy dogs. 

“Human-animal interaction programs help by letting struggling students relax as they talk and think about their stressors. Through petting animals, they are more likely to relax and cope with these stressors rather than become overwhelmed. This enhances students’ ability to think, set goals, get motivated, concentrate and remember what they are learning,” according to  Patricia Pendry, associate professor in WSU’s Department of Human Development.

If they don’t have a dog, stressed out college students may want to spend time with a friend’s dog — or volunteer at an animal shelter — to help them better manage stress and improve their cognitive skills. 

Petting a dog or cat reduces stress. Pendry and her colleagues at Washington State University examined the impact of petting a cat or dog on cortisol levels. Results indicated that the students who had hands-on interaction with the pets had lower cortisol levels after they spent 10 minutes with the cats and dogs — whether they had high or low levels of cortisol to start. This is the first study that showed reductions in students’ cortisol levels during a real-life interaction with animals — not in a laboratory setting. 

Horses can reduce stress, too. Another Washington State University study examined cortisol levels in 10 -13-year-old children who participated in a 12-week program focusing on horse behavior, care, grooming, feeding, riding and interaction. Results indicated that the children who worked with horses had significantly lower cortisol levels throughout the day and in the afternoon, compared to children who were on the waiting list to start the program. “We get excited about that because we know that higher base levels of cortisol — particularly in the afternoon — are considered a potential risk factor for the development of psychopathology,” said Pendry.

Equest, a therapeutic riding program in South Dallas, accepts volunteers as young as 12 years old to work in the barn. Twelve and 13-year-olds need to have a parent with them at first. Equest is holding volunteer orientations on August 21 and 28 and September 11. Visit equest.org/training for information. 

Animal shelters, including Dallas Animal Services, need volunteers to socialize cats and walk and spend time with dogs. You don’t have to own a pet to benefit from animal-human interactions. Pet a cat or dog and feel your stress melt away.