Mindfulness Influence On Stress In The Observation Of A Human-Animal Interaction

The purpose of the present study was to determine whether there are therapeutic benefits for stress reduction derived from observing a virtual human-animal interaction, and whether mindfulness instructions can enhance these effects. After experiencing a mildly stressful cognitive task, participants (N = 162) watched one of three videos involving either a live cat being pet, a live cat not being pet, or a toy cat being pet, with either instructions to engage in mindfulness practice or not. They then completed measures of state-stress, mindfulness, and positive and negative mood. No significant influence for instruction condition or video condition on stress reduction was found, but exploratory analyses revealed that watching the video of a toy cat being pet led to more negative mood, higher ratings of mindfulness, and higher reports of post-manipulation stress relative to both of the live cat videos. Research with animals is challenging, but with the impact that animals have on millions of people, it is important to continue the pursuit of understanding in what way animals can influence humans.