Cited by 200Human-Animal Interaction StudiesStress Responses and CortisolAnimal Behavior and Welfare Studies

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The presence of a dog attenuates cortisol and heart rate in the Trier Social Stress Test compared to human friends

Polheber, John P., Matchock, Robert L.·2014·Journal of Behavioral Medicine

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Abstract

Limited research has addressed how social support in the form of a pet can affect both sympathetic and hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal reactivity in response to a psychological challenge. The present study examined the effects of social support on salivary cortisol and heart rate (HR). Forty-eight participants were randomly assigned to three different conditions (human friend, novel dog, or control). All participants completed the Trier Social Stress Test and provided cortisol, HR, and State-Trait Anxiety Inventory measures. For participants paired with a dog, overall cortisol levels were attenuated throughout the experimental procedure, and HR was attenuated during the Trier Social Stress Test. For all groups, state anxiety increased after the Trier Social Stress Test, and HR during the Trier Social Stress Test was a predictor of cortisol. These results suggest that short-term exposure to a novel dog in an unfamiliar setting can be beneficial. They also suggest a possible mechanism for the beneficial effect associated with affiliation with pets.

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Paws for Thought: A Controlled Study Investigating the Benefits of Interacting with a House-Trained Dog on University Students Mood and Anxiety
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“Polheber and Matchock [46] investigated various types of social support and its influence on stress reactivity among university students.”
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Intranasal Oxytocin Treatment Increases Eye-Gaze Behavior toward the Owner in Ancient Japanese Dog Breeds
Nagasawa, M., Ogawa, M., Mogi, K., & Kikusui, T. (2017) · Frontiers in Psychology · doi:10.3389/fpsyg.2017.01624 · Cited by 29
“Furthermore, interaction with dogs confers a social buffering effect to humans (Polheber and Matchock, 2014).”
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The Impact of Owning a Guide Dog on Owners’ Quality of Life: A Longitudinal Study
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Human–Animal Interaction and Perinatal Mental Health: A Narrative Review of Selected Literature and Call for Research
McDonald, S. E., Tomlinson, C. A., Applebaum, J. W., Moyer, S. W., Brown, S. M., Carter, C. S., & Kinser, P. A. (2021) · International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health · doi:10.3390/ijerph181910114 · Cited by 14
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Employee Attitudes about the Impact of Visitation Dogs on a College Campus
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Acoustic signal dominance in the multimodal communication of a nocturnal mammal
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Psychophysiological effects of human-dog interaction in university students exposed to a stress-induced situation using the Trier Social Stress Test (TSST).
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Cardiovascular, Neurophysiological, and Biochemical Stress Indicators: A Short Review for Information Systems Researchers
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Reflections on Recent Research Into Animal-Assisted Interventions in the Military and Beyond
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Strengthening the Foundation of Human–Animal Interaction Research
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More than Ownership: The Importance of Relationships with Companion Dogs for the Psychological Adjustment of Fibromyalgia Patients
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Exploring Service Dogs for Rehabilitation of Veterans With PTSD: A Microbiome Perspective
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Authors: Polheber, J. P., & Matchock, R. L.
Affiliations: Pennsylvania State University (US)
Corresponding author: Matchock, Robert L.
Venue: Journal of Behavioral Medicine
Publisher: Springer Science and Business Media LLC
Published: 2013-10-30
Volume: 37
Issue: 5
Pages: 860-867
ISSN: 0160-7715 (ISSN-L)
1573-3521
DOI: 10.1007/s10865-013-9546-1
OpenAlex: W2077223757
Cited by: 200
References: 58
Citations by year: 2026: 13 · 2025: 14 · 2024: 17 · 2023: 22 · 2022: 24 · 2021: 23 · 2020: 18 · 2019: 19 · 2018: 13 · 2017: 13 · 2016: 10 · 2015: 10 · 2014: 2
FWCI: 4.86
Type: journal article
Language: en
Open access: closed
Licence: www.springer.com/tdm (tdm)
Locations: Journal of Behavioral Medicine (publishedVersion)
PubMed (publishedVersion)
Topics: Life Sciences › Agricultural and Biological Sciences › Animal Science and Zoology › Human-Animal Interaction Studies
Life Sciences › Neuroscience › Behavioral Neuroscience › Stress Responses and Cortisol
Life Sciences › Agricultural and Biological Sciences › Animal Science and Zoology › Animal Behavior and Welfare Studies
Keywords: human-animal interaction, pet dogs, social support, salivary cortisol, heart rate, Trier Social Stress Test, hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis, state anxiety, stress reactivity, human-animal bond
MeSH terms: Adolescent, Animals, Anxiety, Dogs, Female, Heart Rate, Humans, Hydrocortisone, Male, Saliva, Social Support, Stress, Psychological, Friends, Pets

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The presence of a dog attenuates cortisol and heart rate in the Trier Social Stress Test compared to human friends

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