Behavioral Predictors of Adolescent Anxiety During Therapy Dog Interactions Within an Experimental Setting

Abstract

Animal-assisted interventions (AAIs) are emerging as a promising treatment avenue for adolescent social anxiety. However, the behavioral mechanisms underlying positive results remain unclear. In addition, behavioral signs of discomfort or stress in therapy dogs may suggest concerns about the dog’s welfare. This study examined the associations between stress-linked and affiliative behaviors of adolescents and therapy dogs with adolescent stress reactivity outcomes within an experimental setting in a sample of 50 participants. Linear regression models primarily indicated null findings, with no significant relationships between adolescent affiliative, dog affiliative, or adolescent stress behaviors to self-reported anxiety or psychophysiological arousal. However, the stress-linked behaviors of shake-off and yawning in dogs were negatively associated with adolescent stress reactivity, although the relationships had small effect sizes. These findings provide preliminary insights into the behavioral mechanisms related to changes in adolescent arousal and implications for dog welfare within AAIs. Future research should replicate with larger samples, test for effects with different dogs, and use diverse physiological stress markers for both species involved in the intervention. Additionally, examining the temporal relationships between adolescents and therapy dog behaviors to stress reactivity outcomes would provide insight into causal relationships.