“We already knew that students enjoy interacting with animals, and it helps them experience more positive emotions," Patricia Pendry, an associate professor working in WSU’s Department of Human Development explained in a statement. "What we wanted to learn was whether this exposure would help students reduce their stress in a less subjective way. And it did, which is exciting, because the reduction of stress hormones may, over time, have significant benefits for physical and mental health."
This article originally appeared on Women's Health.
