The current study utilized a randomized controlled trial, conducted in a real-life setting, to determine whether, how, under which conditions, and for whom, infusing various levels of human-animal interaction (HAI) in a 4-week, university-based stress prevention program provides an effective approach to prevent negative ramifications of university students stress, promote student executive functioning and learning, while safeguarding animal welfare. This study will examine effects of sole exposure to evidence-based stress prevention content, hands-on HAI with registered PET Partner teams, or combinations thereof on students' moment-to-moment well-being and longer-term functioning in socioemotional, cognitive and physiological domains.This study will also develop a comprehensive coding system and measure the dynamic nature of behavior of participants, handlers and animals during university- based animal assisted activities, as well as the HAI environment. The data and analyses will then be utilized to inform the development of a quantitative measure to capture of the quality of human animal interaction in various settings to experimentally determine causal pathways underlying program effects on humans and animals.
Study Type
INTERVENTIONAL
Allocation
RANDOMIZED
Purpose
PREVENTION
Masking
SINGLE
Enrollment
300
Students interact with canines in small group settings under the supervision of their handlers during structured and semi-structured activities designed to strengthen physiological, emotion and behavioral regulation
Evidence-based workshops focus on evidence-based content and activities designed to enhance academic stress management knowledge and skills, motivation and learning, adaptive sleep, and study and test-taking behavior through strengthening physiological, emotion and behavioral regulation
Washington State University
Pullman, Washington, United States
RECRUITINGChange in Salivary Cortisol (Diurnal)
Participants provided three samples (wakeup, afternoon, bedtime) over two consecutive days for a total of six samples.
Time frame: Diurnal salivary cortisol was measured three times: at baseline one week before the intervention; at post-test one week following the conclusion of the intervention (baseline+5 weeks); and at follow-up six weeks after the posttest (baseline+11 weeks).
Change in Salivary Cortisol (Basal)
Time frame: Salivary cortisol was measured immediately preceding the beginning of each of the four programming sessions
Change in Salivary Cortisol (Momentary Reactivity)
Time frame: Salivary cortisol was measured two to three times each of the four programming sessions in response to various program activities.
Change in Momentary Emotion (Experience Sampling Method Questionnaire)
Time frame: Momentary emotion was measured three times each of the four programming sessions, immediately before entering the program area, and two additional times 30 and 50 minutes after the program start following various 10 minute activities
Change in Learning and Study Strategies (Learning and Study Strategies Inventory)
Time frame: Learning and study strategies were measured three times: at baseline one week before the intervention; at post-test one week following the conclusion of the intervention (baseline+5 weeks); at follow-up six weeks after the posttest (baseline+11 weeks).
Change in Depression (Beck Depression Inventory)
Time frame: Depression was measured three times: at baseline one week before the intervention; at post-test one week following the conclusion of the intervention (baseline + 5 weeks); and at follow-up six weeks after the posttest (baseline + 11 weeks).
Change in Anxiety (Beck Anxiety Inventory)
Time frame: Anxiety was measured three times: at baseline one week before the intervention; at post-test one week following the conclusion of the intervention (baseline + 5 weeks); and at follow-up six weeks after the posttest (baseline + 11 weeks).
Change in Perceived Stress (Perceived Stress Scale - 10)
The Perceived Stress Scale -10 is a 10-item measure resulting in a single composite score ranging from 0 to 40 with higher scores representing higher levels of reported perceived stress.
Time frame: Perceived stress was measured three times: at baseline one week before the intervention; at post-test one week following the conclusion of the intervention (baseline + 5 weeks); and at follow-up six weeks after the posttest (baseline + 11 weeks).
Change in Executive Functioning (Behavior Rating Inventory of Executive Functioning - Adult Version)
Time frame: Executive functioning was measured three times: at baseline one week before the intervention; at post-test one week following the conclusion of the intervention (baseline + 5 weeks); and at follow-up six weeks after the posttest (baseline + 11 weeks).
Salivary Alpha-Amylase (Diurnal)
Participants provided three samples (wakeup, afternoon, bedtime) over two consecutive days for a total of six samples.
Time frame: Diurnal salivary alpha-amylase was measured three times: at baseline one week before the intervention; at post-test one week following the conclusion of the intervention (baseline+5 weeks); and at followup six weeks after the posttest (baseline+11 weeks)
Salivary Alpha-Amylase (Basal)
Time frame: Salivary alpha-amylase was measured immediately preceding the beginning of each of the four programming sessions
Salivary Alpha-Amylase (Momentary Reactivity)
Time frame: Salivary alpha-amylase was measured two to three times during each of the four programming sessions in response to various program activities.
Attitudes Towards Learning
Time frame: Attitudes towards learning were measured three times: at baseline one week before the intervention; at post-test one week following the conclusion of the intervention (baseline+5 weeks); and at follow-up six weeks after the posttest (baseline+11 weeks)
Self-perceived worry (Penn State Worry Questionnaire)
Time frame: Self-perceived worry was measured three times: at baseline one week before the intervention; at post-test one week following the conclusion of the intervention (baseline + 5 weeks); and at follow-up six weeks after the posttest (baseline + 11 weeks).
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