Tails of Support: An Investigation of Therapy Dog Interventions and Their Impact on College Student Mental Health and Academic Productivity

Abstract

Rates of mental health concerns among college students in the United States are rising, often exceeding the capacity of traditional campus resources. This study investigates the impact of structured, repeated therapy dog interactions, as an innovative and accessible mental health intervention for undergraduates. Using a within-subjects design, 21 Princeton University students participated in four independent study sessions: two with a certified therapy dog present and two without, over a two-week period. Participants completed surveys evaluating depression, anxiety, and stress at the beginning and end of the study, along with surveys assessing stress, anxiety, and productivity for each study session. Results showed statistically significant reductions in depression, anxiety, and stress over the two-week study period. While therapy dog presence did not produce statistically significant short-term effects, observed trends and subjective feedback suggest a potential pattern worth further investigation. Additionally, students who perceived the therapy dog’s presence as helpful reported higher productivity scores, suggesting the potential influence of subjective experience on academic engagement. These findings support the potential of repeated, structured therapy dog interventions, which remain largely unexplored in existing research, as a valuable complement to existing campus mental health resources. Future research should employ larger, more diverse samples and incorporate more objective outcome measures to further understand therapy dogs’ potential in supporting student well-being and academic performance.