Honors College Thesis
 

Examining the Effects on Salivary Cortisol Levels of Shelter Volunteers Interacting with Familiar Dogs

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https://ir.library.oregonstate.edu/concern/honors_college_theses/nv935836m

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  • Heightened cortisol levels are a typical physiological response to stress. The many responsibilities of animal shelter workers can lead to increased stress levels and negative effects on their job satisfaction and overall wellness. As a result, workers are subject to burnout and compassion fatigue. While working in shelter environments may be stressful, interactions with dogs have been found to help people manage their mental as well as physical health. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the physiologic stress response of shelter volunteers following interactions with dogs that they work with. Saliva samples were taken from seventeen participating shelter volunteers before and after interacting with a chosen familiar shelter dog from Willamette Humane Society through a 12 minute testing session consisting of a Secure Base Test and a Paired Attachment Test. Lexington Attachment to Pets Scale survey scores were also analyzed for the purpose of this study. No significant correlations were found with respect to cortisol levels and results of the behavioral tests or survey scores. In conclusion, the shelter volunteers of Willamette Humane Society were found to be stable in this environment and do not necessarily have a change in stress levels after interacting with a familiar dog.
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  • Iowa State Univeristy Stress Physiology Investigative Team
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  • Ongoing Research
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  • 2019-06-07 to 2021-07-08

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