Multiple levels contribute to personal wellness and various factors that influence general health. People explore different approaches to improve mood, reduce stress and anxiety, and overcome fears. Dogs, often seen only as pet animals, could significantly influence a person’s life as therapy dogs through animal-assisted intervention (AAI) during all stages of life. However, each age has particular benefits and obstacles. Thus, dogs reduce the stress reflected in childhood fears, students’ anxiety, job pressure, and depression in late adulthood.
Stress is one of the aspects affecting mental and physical health throughout life. According to Hoeger et al. (2020), any event could work as a stressor, disrupting the normal internal state. When the stressor occurs, the human mind and body work following three stages of general adaptation syndrome (GAS): alarm reaction, resistance, exhaustion, and recovery. Studies by Foreman et al. (2017), While (2017), Grajfoner et al. (2017), and Thakkar et al. (2021) explore how interactions with dogs could help as a stress management strategy in these stages, preventing exhaustion and distress.
One of the most common experiences of stress is fear of hospitals and dental clinics during childhood, which affects the general perception of healthcare services. However, the use of AAI proved to help distract children aged 5-10 from dental stressors, which increased the positive experience (Thakkar et al.,2021). During the pet therapy group research, fifty children were allowed to talk, touch, and pet the dog when desired during dental procedures. Consequently, anxiety reduction was significant compared to the group that underwent dental procedures without interactions with the therapy dog, 78.44 versus 90.20 pulse rate after procedures (Thakkar et al.,2021). Additionally, 97% of children did not cry, and 96% of the parents stated that the children’s experience was good due to the presence of a dog (Thakkar et al.,2021). Therapy dogs in healthcare facilities require special attention to hygiene, safety rules, and the presence of the dog’s handler. Also, dogs could not benefit children with a traumatic past dental experience, who suffered higher stress levels. Therefore, dental care with a therapy dog is a working strategy to lower children’s stressors and prevent the formation of fear based on traumatic experiences.
College students are another age group in which well-being is influenced by stress and anxiety. Students are not allowed to have pet animals in a dormitory; hence, those who had previously had dogs or cats may feel lonely and lack comfort. Grajfoner et al. (2017) researched how 20 minutes of intervention with a therapy dog can improve student mood and reduce stress. The study reveals that people more willingly perceive counseling services with AAI, which decreases homesickness and enhance well-being, reporting that the presence of dogs is associated with a source of comfort, acceptance, and de-stress (Grajfoner et al., 2017). The results show that interactions with the pet and the handler better regulate mental well-being, and anxiety levels, while dogs-only intervention improves mood. Therefore, therapy dogs may help students achieve better results by reducing stress and improving their mood.
Maintaining wellness is one of the challenges of adulthood, with work-related issues being the primary stressors. The study of pets in the workplace differs from the previously mentioned age groups that interact with dogs for a limited time, accompanied by a handler. Foreman et al. (2017) researched the impact of pets and service dogs on workers during their shifts. According to the study, dogs are a better source of social support and stress reduction than human-friend (Foreman et al., 2017). Nevertheless, scholars state, “Based on the results, it is plausible to conclude that a dog in a workplace might invite unsolicited social attention from other employees, which serves as a distraction from work tasks” (Foreman et al., 2017, p. 6). Thus, by providing better mental wellness, there is a possible decrease in job performance, which may lead to a more significant problem later. Also, there is a need for constant attention to health and safety, considering there is no handler to watch over the dog. Hence, the presence of dogs in the workplace may increase personal wellness but lead to a decrease in performance in the long term.
During the life stage of late adulthood, when work achievement is not the main priority, dogs are proven to be a good influence on mental and physical help. While A. examined their impact on elderly people, stating that “22% of men and 28% of women aged 65 years and older are estimated to have depression” (2017, p. 332). The primary stressors are a constant feeling of loneliness, low self-esteem, and vulnerability. Having a pet dog benefits people by providing emotional support, fulfilling the need for companionship, and providing a sense of belonging (While 2017). Pet care may give a sense of purpose and encourage more physical activities, walking or playing. However, there is a risk of worsening depression if the owner cannot satisfy the dog’s needs due to health conditions. Therefore, it is essential to understand a person’s ability to contain their needs and their pets.
According to all reviewed studies, dogs influence a person’s life throughout all stages of life, creating different possibilities for stress reduction, mood improvement, and needs fulfillment. Their impact differs from age to the personal needs of a child or adult. While there are almost no negative aspects of AAI during the younger years, it becomes more challenging in adulthood. However, if a child associates dogs with companionship and support when elder, it will be easier to maintain the same interactions with pets. Hence, if such an approach is applied since childhood, it may improve overall stress management in future situations.
Nevertheless, there are unsolved problems related to pet care that change the overall experience. Considering all studies having a pet rather than a therapy dog creates additional stress, and the possible solution includes several steps. Firstly, we can apply more AAI with therapy dogs in universities, workplaces, and care homes with handlers to lower the risk of violating safety measures, which was a significant obstacle in reviewed works. For older people, it will be easier to interact with dogs, which have handlers, without health risks. In the workplace, we can provide AAI during a break which will result in stress reduction and social interactions without interfering with the work process. Secondly, we can use AAI as a form of counseling to improve mental health. Such sessions may be applied to various ages and contribute to overall health. Hence, dog therapy may be a new approach to stress management in achieving better wellness in various long-term activities.
Thus, dogs can influence personal, academic, and work-life, supporting mental well-being and providing social interactions. There are studies related to the role of dogs on well-being as a pet and as a part of therapy. It is proved to be more effective as a form of animal-assisted intervention that can prevent the fear formation in childhood, help to increase mood, and lower anxiety during college. While the work aspect of AAI has potential obstacles, there are still ways of providing necessary help in stress reduction by having a dog-friendly workplace. Regarding older people, it is vital to mind the benefits of pet dogs and the challenges they may create for people with weaker health. Therefore, the positive aspects of dogs during life are undeniable, and applying AAI practice can improve humanity’s overall mental health and wellness.
References
Foreman, A. M, Glenn, M. K, Meade, B. J, Wirth, O. (2017). Dogs in the workplace: A review of the benefits and potential challenges. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 14(5), 498.
Grajfoner, D., Harte, E., Potter, L. M. & McGuigan, N. (2017). The Effect of dog-assisted intervention on student well-being, mood, and anxiety. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 14(5), 483.
Hoeger, W. W. K., Hoeger S. A., Hoeger C. I & Fawson A. L. (2020). Fitness and wellness (14th ed.). Cengage Learning.
Thakkar, T.K., Naik, S.N. & Dixit, U.B. (2021) Assessment of dental anxiety in children between 5 and 10 years of age in the presence of a therapy dog: a randomized controlled clinical study. European Archives of Paediatric Dentistry, 22, 459–467.
While, A. (2017). Pet dogs as promoters of wellbeing. British Journal of Community Nursing, 22(7), 332–336.