Benefits of Human-Animal Interactions
Maggie O’Haire, associate dean at the College of Veterinary Medicine and affiliate faculty for the Social graduate program within the Department of Psychology, is conducting research under a $3.2 million grant from the National Institutes of Health (NIH) to find how service dogs benefit veterans suffering from PTSD. The study collects physical data through tracking devices and saliva samples to measure levels of cortisol and time spent with the service animal, as well as emotional and mental data through smartphone apps to gauge levels of anxiety and other factors.
The results are providing hard answers to the long-asked question of just how much pets boost our well-being. We see that cortisol levels returned to normal, anxiety decreased, and other benefits are emerging for those who have experienced trauma, as well as civilians in every day life.
For more on the research:
Read the Arizona Alumni article
Updated: 03/15/24