EXAMINING ANIMAL ASSISTED ACTIVITIES AS STRESS PREVENTION AND MENTAL HEALTH PROMOTION STRATEGIES ON COLLEGE CAMPUSES

Jaymie Lynne Vandagriff

doi:10.7273/000001862

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EXAMINING ANIMAL ASSISTED ACTIVITIES AS STRESS PREVENTION AND MENTAL HEALTH PROMOTION STRATEGIES ON COLLEGE CAMPUSES

Dissertation

Open access

EXAMINING ANIMAL ASSISTED ACTIVITIES AS STRESS PREVENTION AND MENTAL HEALTH PROMOTION STRATEGIES ON COLLEGE CAMPUSES

Jaymie Lynne Vandagriff

Washington State University

Doctor of Philosophy (PhD), Washington State University

01/2021

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.7273/000001862

Handle:

https://hdl.handle.net/2376/120406

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Abstract

Animal Assisted Activities

Human-Animal Interaction

University Students

Animal sciences

Mental Health

Stress

In the context of heightened distress among students, colleges have adopted novel approaches to stress prevention and mental health treatment. This includes college-based Animal Assisted Activities (AAA), which have enjoyed wide popularity. According to theory and empirical evidence in the field of human-animal interaction, AAAs may have a unique capacity to alleviate student stress through interactions with live animals, which can catalyze down-regulation of stress parameters such as salivary cortisol. Yet, there is limited evidence demonstrating effects of AAA participation on physiological parameters of stress, and no systematic reviews or meta-analyses of college-based programs have mentioned AAAs. This dissertation examines college-based AAAs as stress prevention and mental health promotive strategies through three manuscripts which examine a) the implementation characteristics, designs, outcomes, and findings of randomized trials evaluating AAAs; b) the effects of a 10-minute AAA on students’ physiological states; and c) the effects of varying levels of psychoeducation and HAI on students’ cortisol reactivity to and recovery from test anxiety. Together, these papers capture the heterogeneity, promising effects, and pitfalls of research examining college-based AAAs while evaluating the efficacy of their components, particularly touching and petting program animals, to promote students’ stress system functioning and mental health.

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Title: EXAMINING ANIMAL ASSISTED ACTIVITIES AS STRESS PREVENTION AND MENTAL HEALTH PROMOTION STRATEGIES ON COLLEGE CAMPUSES
Creators: Jaymie Lynne Vandagriff
Contributors: Patricia Pendry (Advisor)
Laura Griner Hill (Committee Member)
Brian F French (Committee Member)
Michael Cleveland (Committee Member)
Awarding Institution: Washington State University
Academic Unit: Human Development, Department of
Theses and Dissertations: Doctor of Philosophy (PhD), Washington State University
Publisher: Washington State University
Number of pages: 307
Identifiers: 99900606550801842
Language: English
Resource Type: Dissertation