Feeling stressed? Try watching some dog videos
PARIS : Imagine the scene. It's 2.30pm, and you're stuck at the office after a stressful morning. Suddenly, a colleague sends you a video of their golden retriever playing in the garden.
Soon afterward, you feel strangely calm, as if this virtual interlude was enough to loosen the knots in your stomach.
This familiar feeling now has a scientific explanation thanks to the work of Professor John-Tyler Binfet of the University of British Columbia Okanagan, and his colleague Christine Tardif-Williams of Brock University.
Their research shows that watching a short video of a therapy dog and handler produces a significant reduction in stress, comparable to an in-person animal therapy session.
For the purposes of this research, more than 900 students and 120 members of the public watched five-minute video modules featuring therapy dogs and handlers.
These clips were designed to mimic an in-person experience, incorporating elements of guided reflection, visual engagement with the animal and calming narration.
Participants completed a stress questionnaire before and after viewing to measure the impact of these virtual sessions. It turns out that the calming effect of dogs works even through a screen.
'Our findings demonstrate that even with a virtual session, there was a significant reduction in stress among both the student population and the general public, regardless of age,' said Professor Binfet, Director of UBCO's Building Academic Retention through K9s (B.A.R.K.) programme, quoted in a news release.
A revolutionary level of accessibility
These short videos of therapy dogs could revolutionise access to the benefits of animal-assisted therapy. No more geographical constraints, restricted schedules, or long waiting lists.
These free modules, available 24/7, fit into any schedule and are particularly beneficial for people who are isolated or reluctant to seek more formal kinds of mental health support.
How can this surprising effectiveness be explained?
Observing a dog, even on a screen, triggers the release of oxytocin, the feel-good hormone, while reducing cortisol, the stress hormone.
This positive chemical reaction transforms your screens into unexpected therapeutic tools.
The research team plans to enhance its therapy dog video modules, possibly by incorporating mindfulness exercises to maximise the stress-reducing effect of these virtual sessions.
'Regardless, this does reinforce our theory that canine-assisted interventions, whether in person or via teleconferencing, can be beneficial and can help people reduce their stress,' the researchers concluded.
In a world where access to mental health care remains unequal, these short videos provide a tool for democratising well-being, suggesting that humankind's bonds with animals transcend physical barriers. All of which is enough to make you want to click on the next puppy video that pops up in your news feed!
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