| dc.description.abstract | The physiological benefits that come from human-dog interactions have been studied in depth in the past several decades with an increase in our knowledge of results gained. There have been studies that can convey the use of canine companionship as beneficial to a variety of health factors impacting cardiovascular and neurological development. Using this information to establish the link between health benefits and human-dog interactions, the question now lies within a specific age group that is still undergoing overall development of physical and mental health, i.e., collegiate-level students. By narrowing the age group to one that focuses on undergraduate students, it is our goal to determine if these physiological benefits result any differently with a more specific age-range, and if there is an established increase in benefits with the amount of human-dog interactions per student. With students interacting at different levels (pet ownership, work setting, service dog, no interaction, etc.), it can be determined if there is a correlation between certain health benefits and the amount of interaction a student can gain with a dog. Both physical and mental health is important to recognize for developing students at the collegiate level, and through increased interaction, we can determine if these interactions with dogs are beneficial for the health of these students, and why we see these benefits from a scientific perspective. Different college students are surveyed on their level of human-dog interactions and how they personally believe their amount of interactions (no matter how limited or increased), and to determine if the benefits collegiate students are experiencing are a continuation of current research or if there is a new discovery to be made. | |
