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Title:
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A companion animal in a simulated work setting : the roles of task difficulty and pet ownership on stress reduction
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Author:
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Stewart, Anna Hall
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Abstract:
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The benefits of human-animal interactions have been explored in the literature,
documenting positive physiological and psychological outcomes for humans. This
experiment sought to extend research in this area by studying three variables that have
never been examined together within a laboratory setting: task difficulty (moderate or
extreme), the human-animal interaction (present or absent), and participants' pet
ownership to determine whether a companion animal can reduce self-reported state
anxiety. The participants were 128 undergraduate psychology students from California
State University, Sacramento who performed timed written tasks either with or without
the presence of a companion dog. Spielberger's state and trait anxiety measures were
administered to measure stress response to the performance of the tasks. Results indicated
that while the mere presence of a dog does not lower state anxiety for all participants, a
complex interaction of factors can produce significantly lower state anxiety in a work-like environment. |
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Description:
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Thesis (M.A., Psychology (Counseling Psychology)) -- California State University, Sacramento, 2009. |
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URI:
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http://hdl.handle.net/10211.9/703
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Date:
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2010-09-23 |
