The dogs They require our attention and not only to meet their basic needs, but they also like to have fun playing with other dogs, with their favorite toys or with their owners. Or all in one. And spend a time with them not only reduces the stress of the hairy, but also that of the peopleaccording to a new investigation from the University of Chiang Mai in Thailand published in the magazine Plos One.
The study found that stressed students interacting with a “friendly” dog For 15 minutes They reduced that state: they recorded a lower heart rate and lower levels of cortisol stress hormone in their saliva. The experience was also “positive” for the dogs that participated, according to the cortisol levels detected in the fecal tests.
Compared to the measurement moment, the levels of stress informed by the students themselves 33.5% decreased After interacting with the dog, they stand out. “Even short interactions with dogs can significantly reduce stress levels among university students,” concluded the team led by Jaruwan Khonmee.
Play for 15 minutes with dogs
The researchers started from the base that it was a collective exposed to suffering stresswhich would lead to adverse academic results. The study worked with 122 university students with high to high stress levels, which were measured heart rate and cortisol levels in saliva.
Those people were organized with a dog. After spending 15 minutes interacting with him, They reported lower stress levels. “The results showed that the expectation of interacting with dogs reduces self -informed stress, heart rate and salivary cortisol, which remained significantly low after interaction,” the researchers point out.
These meetings were not only positive for students, but also for dogs. Samples of salivary and fecal cortisol of dogs were collected in the morning before starting the activities, at noon and at night after ending the interactions with humans. The concentrations of salivary cortisol did not vary, but those of the other sample: “It was found that the levels of metabolites of fecal glucocorticoids increased during the week when dogs interacted with the students. Which indicates positive stimulation”
Researchers believe that the results can open the door to interventions of this type in the university community. A way to reduce and manage the levels of stress that are generated.
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