Confirmed: pet dogs and cats relieves stress | Chronic

A study by researchers at Washington State University in the United States has shown that petting dogs and cats generates rapid stress relief.

249 university students, under high stress, were exposed to an interaction with these animals in a local shelter.

The results were surprising. Research has shown that there is a significant reduction in the level of cortisol, a major stress hormone, in students during an intervention in real life rather than in the lab.

The details of the publication: "This study shows that students randomly badigned to participate in 10-minute hands-on interaction with cats and dogs from a local shelter had significantly lower salivary cortisol levels than those who lined up watching others participate. "

The team will continue its research and continue the impact of a four-week animal-badisted stress prevention program. Preliminary results are very positive, with a follow-up study showing that the results of recently published work are being maintained.