Presence of Human Friends and Pet Dogs as Moderators of Autonomic Responses to Stress in Women
Abstract
Autonomic responses were measured while 45 adult women performed a standard experimental stress task in the laboratory with only the experimenter present and 2 weeks later at home in the presence of a female friend, pet dog, or neither. Results demonstrated that autonomic reactivity was moderated by the presence of a companion, the nature of whom was critical to the size and direction of the effect. Ss in the friend condition exhibited higher physiological reactivity and poorer performance than subjects in the control and pet conditions. Ss in the pet condition showed less physiological reactivity during stressful tasks than Ss in the other conditions. The results are interpreted in terms of the degree to which friends and pets are perceived as evaluative during stressful task performance. Physiological reactivity was consistent across the laboratory and field settings.
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Petting and talking to dogs can reduce heart rate and blood pressure.
“In addition, petting and talking to dogs can reduce heart rate and blood pressure [8], as can spending time in a room with one’s pet cat [9].”
From The Experience of Teleworking with Dogs and Cats in the United States during COVID-19 (2021) · cites this paper as [8]
Dogs play an increasing role as co-therapist or as supporter for people with psychological or physical disabilities.
“Dogs also play an increasing role as co-therapist or as supporter for people with psychological or physical disabilities.”
From A One Health Perspective on the Human-Companion Animal Relationship with Emphasis on Zoonotic Aspects. (2020) · cites this paper as [31]
The benefits of animal-assisted activities are improved mood, decreased physiological distress, depression, dementia, and loneliness.
“The benefits of these animal-assisted activities are improved mood, decreased physiological distress, depression, dementia, and loneliness [31,32].”
From A One Health Perspective on the Human-Companion Animal Relationship with Emphasis on Zoonotic Aspects. (2020) · cites this paper as [31]
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- Authors
- Allen, K. M., Blascovich, J., Tomaka, J., & Kelsey, R. M.
- Affiliations
- University at Buffalo, State University of New York (US)
- Venue
- Journal of Personality and Social Psychology
- Published
- 1991
- Volume
- 61
- Issue
- 4
- Pages
- 582-589
- ISSN
- 0022-3514 (ISSN-L)
- 1939-1315
- OpenAlex
- W2098484981
- Cited by
- 511
- References
- 0
- Citations by year
- 2026: 7 · 2025: 13 · 2024: 16 · 2023: 18 · 2022: 19 · 2021: 22 · 2020: 13 · 2019: 17 · 2018: 18 · 2017: 24 · 2016: 20 · 2015: 19 · 2014: 17 · 2013: 22 · 2012: 16
- FWCI
- 3.21
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- closed
- Locations
- Journal of Personality and Social Psychology (publishedVersion)
- PubMed (publishedVersion)
- Funders
- National Institutes of Health (2s07rr007066-26)
- National Center for Research Resources (S07 RR 07066)
- Topics
- Life Sciences › Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology › Genetics › Human-Animal Interaction Studies
- Health Sciences › Medicine › Cardiology and Cardiovascular Medicine › Heart Rate Variability and Autonomic Control
- Life Sciences › Neuroscience › Behavioral Neuroscience › Stress Responses and Cortisol
- Keywords
- social support, pet dogs, stress, autonomic reactivity, physiological reactivity, women, companion animals
- MeSH terms
- Adaptation, Psychological, Adult, Animals, Arousal, Autonomic Nervous System, Blood Pressure, Human-Animal Bond, Dogs, Female, Galvanic Skin Response, Heart Rate, Humans, Interpersonal Relations, Psychophysiology, Social Environment, Stress, Psychological
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