A new study suggests that college freshmen who spent time interacting with therapy dogs on campus during their first semester experienced significantly lower levels of stress and depression compared to their peers who did not engage with the animals.
The study, published in the journal Pets, focuses on the long-term mental health benefits of animal-assisted programs for students at Washington State University (WSU). Conducted by Patricia Pendry, a WSU professor of human development, and doctoral candidate Alexa Carr, the research shows that students who participated in regular, unstructured therapy dog sessions over several months reported improved mental health outcomes, including reduced stress, depression, and increased self-compassion.
“We wanted to test if giving students complete autonomy over their interactions with therapy dogs, rather than following a structured program, could yield similar benefits,” said Pendry. “This approach mirrors the experience of pet ownership and may be easier for universities to implement.”
Pendry’s earlier research demonstrated that brief interactions with therapy dogs can reduce cortisol levels and enhance well-being. However, the new study aimed to assess the impact of sustained, unstructured access to therapy animals, providing students with the opportunity to interact with the dogs for up to two hours at a time over the course of a semester.
The study involved 145 first-year students who left their family pets behind when they moved to college. These participants were randomly assigned to either a seven-session therapy dog program or a waitlisted control group. Those in the program had the freedom to pet, talk to, or simply sit with the dogs in a relaxed environment, where they were able to engage with the animals as they pleased.
The therapy dogs, provided by Palouse Paws, a local representative of Pet Partners, a national organization specializing in animal-assisted interventions, played a central role in the study. However, researchers also suggest that the environment—an inviting space on WSU’s Pullman campus, where students could engage with the dogs and other students—may have contributed to the mental health benefits observed.
Tracking participants’ well-being throughout the semester, Pendry and Carr found that students who participated in the therapy dog sessions had significantly lower rates of stress, worry, and depression compared to those who did not engage with the dogs. Additionally, students in the therapy dog group reported higher levels of self-compassion, which is associated with improved emotional regulation and overall well-being.
“Our findings indicate that even a brief, unstructured interaction with therapy animals can have positive effects,” Pendry said. “It’s likely that the combination of interacting with the dogs, sitting quietly, and socializing with other students contributes to these benefits.”
The study also revealed that students who attended multiple therapy dog sessions saw the greatest improvement in their well-being. “Regular, sustained interactions seem to have a cumulative effect,” Carr said. “This suggests that universities should consider offering ongoing, unstructured animal-assisted programs rather than one-time events.”
As mental health concerns among college students continue to rise, Pendry hopes that the study will encourage more universities to offer similar programs. Animal-assisted interventions, she notes, are an easy, low-cost way to support student well-being without the need for a formal curriculum.
“This is a simple, low-cost initiative that can provide lasting benefits,” Pendry said. “All that’s needed is an inviting space where students can engage with the dogs on their own terms, ensuring both the animals’ welfare and participants’ safety.”
Looking ahead, Pendry and her team plan to explore whether students who did not leave childhood pets at home also experience similar mental health benefits from these programs.
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