Dr. Howard Smith Oncall

Vidcast:  https://youtu.be/TLtTka9aWa4   Just 10 minutes petting a friendly dog or cat can significantly diminish the stress on a college student stemming from academic demands, social pressures, and student loans.  The data gathered from 249 students at the Washington State University by scientists there quantitated stress levels by measurement of steroids in the students’ saliva.   The students who actually petted animals had significantly lower stress hormones compared with those watching others petting, or those merely seeing pictures of the animals.   If you find yourself under stress from not only school but also work or your parental responsibilities, consider bringing a pet into your life.  Be sure, though, to choose one that doesn’t exacerbate the demands on your time, attention, or budget.   Patricia Pendry, Jaymie L. Vandagriff. Animal Visitation Program (AVP) Reduces Cortisol Levels of University Students: A Randomized Controlled Trial. AERA Open, 2019; 5 (2): 233285841985259 DOI: 10.1177/23328584