A Pilot Study Assessing the Effectiveness of an Animal-Assisted Outreach Program

AbstractThe prevalence of anxiety and loneliness on college campuses and the simultaneous reduction in college counseling center resources has created a need for creative approaches that meet the needs of student populations. This exploratory study evaluated the effectiveness of an animal-assisted therapy (AAT) outreach program on symptoms of anxiety and loneliness among college students (N = 55) at a small arts college. Results revealed significant decreases in self-reported anxiety and loneliness scores following the AAT intervention. Additionally, the goals of sessions and approach of interventions significantly predicted lower anxiety scores but did not predict the reduction of loneliness scores. Lastly, interaction with the dog was identified as the most impactful aspect of the intervention. The results of this study reveal that AAT outreach interventions may be an efficient and effective way for university and college counseling centers to meet the growing demands of their student populations.KEYWORDS: animal-assisted therapycollege counselinganxietyoutreach programscreativity in counseling Additional informationNotes on contributorsLeslie A. StewartLeslie A. Stewart is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Counseling at Idaho State University, Pocatello, Idaho.Franco DispenzaFranco Dispenza is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Counseling and Psychological Services at Georgia State University, Atlanta, Georgia. Lindy ParkerLindy Parker is an Administrative Specialist and Academic Advisor at Georgia State University, Atlanta, Georgia.Catherine Y. ChangCatherine Y. Chang is a Professor in the Department of Counseling and Psychological Services at Georgia State University, Atlanta, Georgia. Taffey CunnienTaffey Cunnien is the Director of Counseling and Student Support Services at Savannah College of Art and Design, Atlanta, Georgia.