Dogs Reduce Stress

If you are a dog owner, you have probably noticed more than once that you feel calmer and more confident in the company of a pet. And this is no coincidence. Scientists have long established that dogs reduce stress levels in humans, as well as reduce the risk of cardiovascular disease. Proof of this is the research of scientists.

For example, K. Allen and J. Blascovich presented a paper on this topic at a conference of the American Society for the Study of Psychosomatics, later the results of their study were published in Psychosomatic Medicine.

The study involved 240 couples. Half had dogs, half didn’t. The experiment was conducted in the participants’ homes.

Initially, they were asked to complete 4 questionnaires:

• Cook’s Combined Hostility Scale (Cook & Medley 1954)
• multidimensional anger scale (Siegel 1986)
• measuring the degree of intimacy in a relationship (Berscheid, Snyder & Omoto 1989)
• animal attitude scale (Wilson, Netting and New 1987).

The participants were then subjected to stress. There were three tests:

• oral solution of arithmetic problems,
• application of cold
• delivering a speech on a given topic in front of experimenters.

All tests were carried out under four conditions:

1. Alone, that is, there was no one in the room except the participant and the experimenters.
2. In the presence of a spouse.
3. In the presence of a dog and a spouse.
4. Only in the presence of a dog.

We studied how each of these 4 factors affects the level of stress. And questionnaires were filled out in order to find out, for example, whether it is true that high scores on a scale of hostility and anger make it difficult to accept support from others, people or animals.

The level of stress was determined simply: they measured the pulse rate and blood pressure.

The results were funny.

• The highest level of stress was found in the presence of a spouse.
• A slightly lower level of stress was noted when performing the task alone.
• Stress was even lower if, in addition to the spouse, there was a dog in the room.
• Finally, in the presence of only the dog, the stress was minimal. And even in the event that previously the subjects showed high scores on a scale of anger and hostility. That is, the dog helped even those participants who find it difficult to accept support from other people.

All dog owners spoke of a very positive attitude towards animals, and 66% of the subjects who did not have animals also joined them.

The positive effect of the presence of the dog was explained by the fact that it is a source of social support that does not try to evaluate. Unlike a spouse.

It is likely that studies like this on stress reduction in the presence of dogs have given rise to the tradition in some companies and educational institutions to allow employees and students to bring animals to work and school once a week.