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Pet ownership effect on stress levels for university students during highly stressfull academic periods
Elsayed, FatmaElzahraa
Elsayed, FatmaElzahraa
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Abstract
University students usually get stressed out during stressful academic periods, negatively impacting their well-being and academic performance. This research was carried out to investigate the connection between pet ownership and anxiety levels among university students during the most stressful academic periods. A quantitative, non-experimental method, including the State Trait Anxiety Inventory (STAI), was used to measure the participants' anxiety levels before and after interacting with their pets. A paired sample t-test was conducted on a small sample of 6 participants to compare the anxiety levels before and after the pet interaction. The results proved a statistically significant decrease in anxiety levels after interacting with pets (M=37). 6, SD=6. 0) in contrast to the previous time (M=64). 8, SD=4. 7), with p<. 001. Thus, the results prove that communication with pets may ease anxiety among university students during stressful academic periods. Nevertheless, the study's limitations, like a small sample size and the use of self-reported measures, should be considered. Besides, research with bigger sample sizes, objective measures, and longitudinal designs is recommended to investigate the causal relationships and the long-term effects of pet tenure on anxiety levels. Moreover, investigating the possibility of introducing pet friendly policies or university programs could be the solution to supporting students' mental well being during stressful periods.