Examining the impact of human-animal interaction and therapeutic massage on physiological and psychological measures in first year doctor of physical therapy students

Abstract

Presented to the 21st Annual Symposium on Graduate Research and Scholarly Projects (GRASP) held at the Rhatigan Student Center, Wichita State University, April 11, 2025.Research completed in the Department of Physical Therapy, College of Health Professions.INTRODUCTION: Doctor of Physical Therapy (DPT) students face significant anxiety due to demanding coursework, long hours of studying, intense academic challenges, and the pressure to excel. This stress can negatively affect mental and physical health, leading to increased anxiety and physiological responses. Human-animal interaction (HAI) and therapeutic massage (TM) have been studied as potential interventions to reduce anxiety, but limited research has compared their effectiveness in DPT students. PURPOSE: This study aims to evaluate the effectiveness of HAI compared to TM in first year DPT students by measuring anxiety levels, blood pressure, and heart rate. METHODS: Eight first-year DPT students at Wichita State University participated and were randomly assigned to either the HAI or TM group. The HAI group engaged in 10-minute sessions interacting with a therapy dog, while the TM group received a 10-minute massage focusing on the cervical and upper trapezius muscles. Anxiety levels were assessed using the State-Trait Anxiety Inventory (STAI), while BP and HR were measured pre- and post intervention using an automatic cuff. Data was collected across three sessions and analyzed for trends using descriptive statistics. RESULTS: The data did not show a consistent anxiety reduction for either group based on STAI scores. However, HR and BP exhibited a downward trend in the HAI group; the TM group showed more variability. CONCLUSION: A clear advantage of one intervention over the other in anxiety reduction was not shown. Limitations such as small sample size and external stressors affecting anxiety levels should be addressed in future research.Graduate School, Academic Affairs, University Librarie