Evaluation of the Effects of Human-Animal Interaction on Anxiety in Graduate Students

The study's purpose is to evaluate the effects of human-animal interaction on physiological and psychological markers in graduate students. Graduate students face significant anxiety due to demanding coursework, long hours of studying, intense academic challenges, and the pressure to excel. Chronic stress in this population can contribute to elevated anxiety levels and measurable physiological changes, such as increased heart rate and blood pressure. Human-animal interaction (HAI) and its effect on student stress, test anxiety, and physiological markers have been studied on college campuses, largely focusing on undergraduate students. However, research investigating the impact of HAI on graduate student stress, test anxiety, and physiological markers in high-stakes programs is limited. This study will evaluate the effectiveness of repeated HAI on graduate students' physiological markers and anxiety. The results of this study will assist participants, students outside this study, and the program administrators to appreciate the immense value of a full-time therapy dog on campus, facilitating the human-animal bond in higher education.

NCT Number	NCT07036354
Lead Sponsor	Wichita State University
Conditions	Human-animal Interaction, Anxiety
Enrollment	30 participants
Start Date	2025-10-06
Primary Completion	2025-12-31 (estimated)
Study Completion	2027-04-30 (estimated)
Updated on ClinicalTrials.gov	2025-10-29