Randomized Trial Examining Effects of Animal Assisted Intervention and Stress Related Symptoms on College Students' Learning and Study Skills.

ABSTRACT: 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) (? = 0.582, p = 0.005) and SELFREGULATION (i.e., concentration, self-testing, study aids, time management) (? = 0.501, p = 0.031) for at-risk students receiving equal combinations of HAI and content presentations. Moderation effects remained at follow-up (? = 0.626, p = 0.005; ? = 0.630, p = 0.007). At-risk students receiving only HAI (100%) also showed higher levels of WILL at posttest (? = 0.481, p = 0.021) and follow up (? = 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.

SUBMITTER: Pendry P 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC7143432 | biostudies-literature | 2020 Mar

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature