Examining the Impact of Virtual Animal Stimuli on College Students’ Affect and Perception of their Academic Advising Experience
The benefits of animal-assisted interventions (AAI) involving animals in therapy are widely accepted. The presence of animals in therapy can decrease a patient’s reservation about therapy and promote a sense of comfort and rapport during the therapy process. Using survey data from college students (...
| Main Authors: | , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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MDPI AG
2023-05-01
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| Series: | Animals |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2076-2615/13/9/1522 |
| _version_ | 1797603098950107136 |
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| author | Elizabeth A. Johnson Sheetal Survase Peter B. Gray |
| author_facet | Elizabeth A. Johnson Sheetal Survase Peter B. Gray |
| author_sort | Elizabeth A. Johnson |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | The benefits of animal-assisted interventions (AAI) involving animals in therapy are widely accepted. The presence of animals in therapy can decrease a patient’s reservation about therapy and promote a sense of comfort and rapport during the therapy process. Using survey data from college students (<i>n</i> = 152) attending a large public four-year institution, this study is the first to investigate the benefits of virtual animal stimuli during academic advising appointments. It posits that exposure to virtual animal stimuli can influence positive mental health and well-being in academic advising settings. Specifically, the research questions explored how different types of video content influence students’ affect and how virtual animal stimuli impact students’ perception of their advisor and university. College students were randomly assigned to watch one of four types of virtual stimuli (wild animals, companion animals, nature, and a control) prior to their advising session. Subjective measures were collected at baseline and after the advising session. Results indicated animal stimuli increase positive affect, and companion animal stimuli influence the student’s perception of the advisor. This study supports the notion that companion animal videos positively impact students’ well-being and interactions with their advisors and may have broader implications beyond the academic setting. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-11T04:25:37Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-e035e7fe22a54eb5bcf4166a45829421 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2076-2615 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-11T04:25:37Z |
| publishDate | 2023-05-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Animals |
| spelling | doaj.art-e035e7fe22a54eb5bcf4166a458294212023-11-17T22:30:16ZengMDPI AGAnimals2076-26152023-05-01139152210.3390/ani13091522Examining the Impact of Virtual Animal Stimuli on College Students’ Affect and Perception of their Academic Advising ExperienceElizabeth A. Johnson0Sheetal Survase1Peter B. Gray2Department of Anthropology, University of Nevada, Las Vegas, NV 89154, USASchool of Public Policy and Leadership, University of Nevada, Las Vegas, NV 89154, USADepartment of Anthropology, University of Nevada, Las Vegas, NV 89154, USAThe benefits of animal-assisted interventions (AAI) involving animals in therapy are widely accepted. The presence of animals in therapy can decrease a patient’s reservation about therapy and promote a sense of comfort and rapport during the therapy process. Using survey data from college students (<i>n</i> = 152) attending a large public four-year institution, this study is the first to investigate the benefits of virtual animal stimuli during academic advising appointments. It posits that exposure to virtual animal stimuli can influence positive mental health and well-being in academic advising settings. Specifically, the research questions explored how different types of video content influence students’ affect and how virtual animal stimuli impact students’ perception of their advisor and university. College students were randomly assigned to watch one of four types of virtual stimuli (wild animals, companion animals, nature, and a control) prior to their advising session. Subjective measures were collected at baseline and after the advising session. Results indicated animal stimuli increase positive affect, and companion animal stimuli influence the student’s perception of the advisor. This study supports the notion that companion animal videos positively impact students’ well-being and interactions with their advisors and may have broader implications beyond the academic setting.https://www.mdpi.com/2076-2615/13/9/1522anthrozoologyhuman–animal interactionwell-beingvirtualcompanion animalintervention |
| spellingShingle | Elizabeth A. Johnson Sheetal Survase Peter B. Gray Examining the Impact of Virtual Animal Stimuli on College Students’ Affect and Perception of their Academic Advising Experience Animals anthrozoology human–animal interaction well-being virtual companion animal intervention |
| title | Examining the Impact of Virtual Animal Stimuli on College Students’ Affect and Perception of their Academic Advising Experience |
| title_full | Examining the Impact of Virtual Animal Stimuli on College Students’ Affect and Perception of their Academic Advising Experience |
| title_fullStr | Examining the Impact of Virtual Animal Stimuli on College Students’ Affect and Perception of their Academic Advising Experience |
| title_full_unstemmed | Examining the Impact of Virtual Animal Stimuli on College Students’ Affect and Perception of their Academic Advising Experience |
| title_short | Examining the Impact of Virtual Animal Stimuli on College Students’ Affect and Perception of their Academic Advising Experience |
| title_sort | examining the impact of virtual animal stimuli on college students affect and perception of their academic advising experience |
| topic | anthrozoology human–animal interaction well-being virtual companion animal intervention |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2076-2615/13/9/1522 |
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