The mental health benefits of having therapy dogs at lectures and tutorials is being tested at the University of Queensland.
The School of Health and Rehabilitation Sciences is conducting the research with the help of a trained therapy dog, a labradoodle named Elsa.
“There is a lot of interest in the benefits of animal-assisted learning with primary and secondary students, but there’s a gap in the higher education setting,” Dr Jess Hill from the School said.
“The study aims to explore university students’ experiences to understand whether canine-assisted learning can ease stress, anxiety and motivation levels. Elsa is joining me as I teach my tutorials, and students will be able to actively engage with her throughout the lesson.”
Having Elsa in the room may help build rapport between me and students, so that they feel more confident to ask for help if they need it, she said.
University students are said to be five times more likely than the general population to experience poor mental health. This is caused by life demands and developmental transitions, such as increased independence after high school, gaining employment and moving out of home.
“There are a number of mental health support services provided by universities, but students usually have to initiate the contact. We found there is often reluctance to seek out these supports due to the fear of being stigmatised,” she said.
Students will complete a survey about their experiences as part of the study, with results available at the end of the year.