Exploring whether household pets buffer responses to a remote stress induction

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dc.contributor.authorHarvie, Helen
dc.contributor.examiningcommitteeKelly, Debbie (Psychology)en_US
dc.contributor.examiningcommitteeRoos, Leslie (Psychology)en_US
dc.contributor.supervisorGiuliano, Ryan J.
dc.date.accessioned2022-08-24T14:36:28Z
dc.date.available2022-08-24T14:36:28Z
dc.date.copyright2022-08-19
dc.date.issued2022-08-16
dc.date.submitted2022-08-19T14:11:47Zen_US
dc.date.submitted2022-08-23T21:23:21Zen_US
dc.degree.disciplinePsychologyen_US
dc.degree.levelMaster of Arts (M.A.)en_US
dc.description.abstractWithin the field of research examining stress reactivity, there have been recent strides to modify the Trier Social Stress Test (TSST) to be administered remotely, with user-friendly and accessible means of collecting physiological measures of an acute stress response. Research regarding stress reactivity often examines stress buffering, the phenomena wherein the experience of an acute stressor is dulled or recovery is assisted by environmental factors. Within the home environment, a household pet may be considered a source of stress buffering. This study examined whether interactions with a household pet before and after a novel, internet-delivered adaptation of the TSST (iTSST) may result in a blunted acute stress response, collected through photoplethysmography via Smartphone, and self-reported stress and anxiety (390 recruited, n = 291). As well, this study examined if pet attachment, species of pet, and pre-existing mental health and environmental factors influence the extent to which stress buffering may occur (n = 66). Results indicated that individuals who interacted with a pet cat, but not a pet dog, demonstrated a blunted response to the iTSST. As well, occurrences of behaviours that were observed during an owner’s interaction with their pet dog or cat were similar before and after the iTSST, suggesting that these behaviours may be an expression of trait-like characteristics. Finally, owner gender and timepoint during the experiment best accounted for variance in data between participants. Results support the idea that pets may be beneficial in attenuating acute stress responses.en_US
dc.description.noteOctober 2022en_US
dc.description.sponsorshipUniversity of Manitoba Graduate Enhancement of Tri-Agency Stipend (GETS)en_US
dc.identifier.urihttp://hdl.handle.net/1993/36740
dc.language.isoengen_US
dc.rightsopen accessen_US
dc.subjectheart rateen_US
dc.subjecthousehold peten_US
dc.subjectphotoplethysmographyen_US
dc.subjectstress bufferingen_US
dc.subjectTrier Social Stress Testen_US
dc.titleExploring whether household pets buffer responses to a remote stress inductionen_US
dc.typemaster thesisen_US
local.subject.manitobanoen_US
oaire.awardNumber766en_US
oaire.awardTitleCGS-Men_US
oaire.awardURIhttp://www.outil.ost.uqam.ca/CRSH/Detail.aspx?Cle=197878&Langue=2en_US
project.funder.identifierhttps://doi.org/10.13039/501100000155en_US
project.funder.nameSocial Sciences and Humanities Research Council of Canadaen_US
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