ERIC Number: ED635455
Record Type: Non-Journal
Publication Date: 2023
Pages: 106
Abstractor: As Provided
ISBN: 979-8-3797-1200-6
ISSN: N/A
EISSN: N/A
Available Date: N/A
Assessing the Impact of Animal-Assisted Therapy on Mood Profile, Anxiety, Mental Well-Being, and Stress amongst University Students -- A Quasi-Experimental Study
Merritt, Symone J.
ProQuest LLC, Ed.D. Dissertation, Delaware State University
This study assessed the impact of Animal-Assisted Therapy (AAT) on the mood profile, anxiety, mental well-being, and stress of university students. Stress has always been a widespread issue for university students, with the COVID-19 pandemic exacerbating the problem. The need for stress alleviation therapies to be further investigated within higher education is vital. AAT is a non-traditional therapeutic option of interventions that incorporates animals into the treatment plan to. To assess the effect of a 20-minute AAT session on the chosen variables (i.e., mood profile, anxiety, and mental well-being) among active university students, a quasi-experimental study was utilized with a pre-post single group design. The study discovered evidence in favor of the beneficial effects of AAT on the health of college students. Participants' levels of anxiety, stress, anger/frustration, and overall mental wellbeing significantly improved. The findings imply that AAT could be an effective strategy for fostering college students' mental health and wellness. [The dissertation citations contained here are published with the permission of ProQuest LLC. Further reproduction is prohibited without permission. Copies of dissertations may be obtained by Telephone (800) 1-800-521-0600. Web page: http://www.proquest.com.bibliotheek.ehb.be/en-US/products/dissertations/individuals.shtml.]
Descriptors: Animals, Therapy, Mental Health, Well Being, Stress Management, College Students, Program Effectiveness, Anxiety
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Publication Type: Dissertations/Theses - Doctoral Dissertations
Education Level: Higher Education; Postsecondary Education
Audience: N/A
Language: English
Sponsor: N/A
Authoring Institution: N/A
Grant or Contract Numbers: N/A
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