This research compared the blood pressures and heart rates of 20 pet owners in their own homes while petting their dogs and while reading aloud. All pet owners showed a positive regard for their animals as demonstrated by high scores on a Pet Attitude Scale. The owners exhibited significantly lower blood pressures while petting than while reading.
Get full access to this article
View all access options for this article.
References
1.
BaunM. M.BergstromN.LangstonN. F.ThomaL.Physiological effects of petting dogs: Influences of attachment. In AndersonR. K.HartB. L.HartL. A. (Eds.), The pet connection. Minneapolis, MN: Center to Study Human-Animal Relationships and Environments, 1984. Pp. 162–170.
2.
FriedmannE.KatcherA. H.LynchJ. J.ThomasS. A.Animal contributions and one-year survival of patient after discharge from a coronary care unit. Public Health Reports, July-August, 1980, 95, No. 4.
3.
LynchJ. J.ThomasS. A.Human speech and blood pressure. Journal of Nervous and Mental Disease, 1980, 168, 526–534.
4.
TemplerD.VeleberD.The construction of a pet attitude scale. Psychological Record, 1981, 31, 343–348.
