Evaluating college student interest in pet therapy.
The first year of college can be extremely stressful, especially for students residing on campus.


OBJECTIVE
The authors obtained information from college freshmen about their relationships with pets and investigated interest in a pet therapy program as social support for transient stressful periods.


METHODS
As part of a university orientation program, 246 college freshman attended 1 of 5 health issues sessions offered during the 2006-2007 academic year. Approximately 50 freshmen attended each session.


METHODS
Participants completed a questionnaire at the beginning of the session, followed by a 20-minute presentation about pet therapy that ended with pet therapy visitation.


RESULTS
Students identified that visits with certified pet therapy dogs could be beneficial to college freshman during their first year away from home.


CONCLUSIONS
These students indicated that a pet therapy program could temporarily fill the absence of previous support systems and be a catalyst for establishing new social relationships.
Adamle
Kathleen N
KN
College of Nursing, Kent State University, Kent, Ohio 44242, USA. kadamle@kent.edu
Riley
Tracy A
TA
Carlson
Tracey
T
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000818:Animals; D000829:Animals, Domestic; D000529:Complementary Therapies; D005260:Female; D001841:Human-Animal Bond; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008603:Mental Health; D013334:Students / Q000523:psychology*; D014495:Universities; D055815:Young Adult