Therapy dogs help students bond, not just relieve stress
A survey of 676 university students found that therapy dog visits are meaningful for reasons beyond the animals themselves. While many cited the dogs' traits, others valued the social connections with handlers and peers. The sessions served as a low-stress way to start conversations, according to the study.
The B.A.R.K. program at UBC Okanagan has been the focus of ongoing research into how animal-assisted interventions affect university students. This latest survey, involving mostly first-year students, used an open-ended format rather than predetermined categories, allowing participants to define meaningfulness in their own terms. Responses clustered around three main themes: the dogs' accepting nature, social connection, and emotional shifts.
The research team suggests practical applications, noting that campus counseling centers could integrate therapy dogs into group sessions to help students ease into conversation. The findings position dogs as social catalysts—their calming presence creates natural openings for dialogue between students and handlers, which some participants compared to informal therapy sessions.
This study could influence how universities design mental health support services, particularly for first-year students adjusting to campus life. If therapy dogs prove effective as social catalysts, counseling centers may incorporate them into group programming to reduce barriers to conversation. The findings may also encourage institutions without such programs to consider implementing them, given the relatively low-cost, high-reach nature of drop-in sessions. However, the study's single-institution scope means broader applicability remains to be tested.