For college students, spending time with pets helps lower levels of cortisol, a hormone associated with stress.
Student life is sometimes synonymous with anxiety between exams and odd jobs. According to new research, spending some time with a dog or a cat can help students reduce their stress levels. The results were published in American Educational Research Association Open.
4 groups of students
“Even ten minutes can have a significant impact,” says Patricia Pendry, co-author of the study. For this research, 249 students were recruited and then divided into 4 groups: the first petted cats and dogs for ten minutes, they could also play with the animals. In the second group, the students waited their turn in a straight line, watching the others take care of the dogs and cats. The third part of the students watched a slide show with the animals, and the last group waited, sitting in silence.
A reduction in stress whatever its level
Saliva samples were taken in the morning and then after participation in the experiment. Scientists have been interested in cortisol levels because this hormone is produced by the body in response to stress. The cortisol levels of the young people who petted the animals decreased significantly, even when they were not particularly high at the start. “It’s really exciting, says Patricia Pendry, because reducing stress hormones can, over time, benefit physical and mental health.” The researchers are now working on a 4-week stress prevention program based on animal interactions.
Animals reduce the stress of the youngest
In 2017, a study already showed the interest of animals in reducing children’s stress. The presence of a pet in the face of a stressful situation reassured them. For the elderly too, having a cat or a dog can be beneficial: beyond the presence they bring, animals are a source of stimulation because you have to take care of them, walk them or even feed them. In France, there would be approximately 63 million companies.
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