Effects of Contact to Dogs During Stressful Situations

Effects of Contact to a Dog During Standardised Stressful Situations

The investigators will conduct an experimental study comparing responses of healthy participants in two test situations where they are subjected to mild stress. The study design is a randomised controlled crossover design nested within two groups - one with a dog present and another without a dog present. The participants will be randomly allocated to two groups (with dog and without dog) and the participants will receive both test situations on the same day. During the two test situations the participants will be subjected to a classical stress test , and exposed to tolerable pain, as well as periods with relaxation.

Study Overview

• Status: Completed
• Conditions: Physiological Stress Responses to Standardises Stress Situations; Psychological Responses to Standardised Stress Situations; Behavioural Responses to Standardised Stress Situations
• Intervention / Treatment: Other: Dog; Other: No Dog

Detailed Description

The study design is a randomised controlled crossover design, nested within two groups - one with a dog present (Dog) and another without a dog present (No Dog). Both groups will be subjected to a classical stress test - the Maastricht Acute Stress Test (MAST) and a pain test with periods of relaxation in between. The participants will be subjected to both test situations on the same day and in the same order.

On the test day, background information and baseline measures (baseline period, duration: 40 minutes) will be collected, whereafter the participants rest for 30 minutes (pre-intervention rest period). After this the participants are subjected to the two test situations, pain test (60 minutes, including calibration and two separate tests sessions) and MAST (15 minutes, including 5 min introduction) with 30 minutes of relaxation in between and a 40 min post-rest period The participants' interaction with the dog is recorded using quantitative behaviour sampling using predefined behavioural categories.

Most physiological and all behavioural measures are recorded continuously throughout test situations and relaxation, in order to be able to study the response to the stress situations and recovery, and the response to contact with dog, and to psychological responses. Some physiological measures obtained before and after each test situation.

Below the exact time schedule of the test day is shown and these times will be refered to when the outcome measures are described. The "Baseline period" (40 minutes) and the last 10 minutes where the equipment for physiological measures is removed is not included in the duration of the test period (174 minutes). All times are given in minutes.

Baseline period (40 minutes - not part of total test period)

• Pre-intervention period (start t = 0; end t = 30)
• Calibration for pain test (start t = 30, end t = 35)
• Rest period 1 (start t = 35, end t = 47)
• Pain test 1 (start t = 47, end t = 52)
• Post-pain test 1 (start t = 52, end, t= 62)
• Rest period 2 (start t = 62, end t = 74)
• Pain test 2 (start t = 74, end t = 79)
• Post-pain test 2 (start t = 79, end t = 89)
• Rest period 3 (start t = 89, end t = 119)
• MAST test (incl. introduction (start t = 119, end t = 134)
• Rest period 4 (start t = 134, end t = 174)

• Study Type: Interventional
• Enrollment (Actual): 60
• Phase: Not Applicable

Contacts and Locations

Study Locations

• Denmark
  • Tjele, Denmark, DK-8830
    • Aarhus University

Participation Criteria

Eligibility Criteria

• Ages Eligible for Study: 18 years and older (ADULT, OLDER_ADULT)
• Accepts Healthy Volunteers: Yes
• Genders Eligible for Study: All

Description

Inclusion Criteria:

• Normal cognitive functioning and physical movement
• Ability to speak and read Danish

Exclusion Criteria:

• Known medical, psychiatric or neurological disease
• Use of psychotropic medications
• Frequent use of pain medication
• Use of illegal psychotropic drugs
• Known allergies to dogs

Study Plan

How is the study designed?

Design Details

• Primary Purpose: BASIC_SCIENCE
• Allocation: RANDOMIZED
• Interventional Model: PARALLEL
• Masking: NONE

Number of Arms

2

Arms and Interventions

Participant Group / Arm	Intervention / Treatment
EXPERIMENTAL: Dog; Being subjected to two standardised stress situations with a dog and its handler present	Other: Dog; Subjection to standardised stress situations in the presence of a dog and a person
EXPERIMENTAL: No Dog; Being subjected to two standardised stress situations without a dog present, but in the presence of a person (dog handler)	Other: No Dog; Subjection to standardised stress situations in the presence of a person

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Measure Description	Time Frame
Physiological measure, heart rate	The test person wears self-adhesive electrodes and the heart rate is measured non-invasively	Measured continuously throughout the total test period of 174 minutes (starting in the pre-intervention period and during the following test situations and all resting periods)]
Physiological measure, systolic and diastolic blood pressure	Blood pressure is measured manually with a blood pressure monitor with a blood pressure cuff.	Measured at the end of the 30 minute pre-intervention period (t=30 minutes)]
Physiological measure, systolic and diastolic blood pressure	Blood pressure is measured manually with a blood pressure monitor with a blood pressure cuff.	Measured at the end of Rest Period 1 (t=47 minutes)]
Physiological measure, systolic and diastolic blood pressure	Blood pressure is measured manually with a blood pressure monitor with a blood pressure cuff.	Measured after Pain test 1 (t=52 minutes)]
Physiological measure, systolic and diastolic blood pressure	Blood pressure is measured manually with a blood pressure monitor with a blood pressure cuff.	Measured at the end of Rest period 2 (t=74 minutes)]
Physiological measure, systolic and diastolic blood pressure	Blood pressure is measured manually with a blood pressure monitor with a blood pressure cuff.	Measured after Pain test 2 (t=79 minutes)]
Physiological measure, systolic and diastolic blood pressure	Blood pressure is measured manually with a blood pressure monitor with a blood pressure cuff.	Measured at the end of Rest period 3 (t=119 minutes)]
Physiological measure, systolic and diastolic blood pressure	Blood pressure is measured manually with a blood pressure monitor with a blood pressure cuff	Measured after MAST test (t=134 minutes)]
Physiological measure, systolic and diastolic blood pressure	Blood pressure is measured manually with a blood pressure monitor with a blood pressure cuff.	Measured after Rest period 4 (t=174 minutes)]
Physiological measure, heart rate variability	Heart rate variability is calculated from heart rate data.	Measured continuously throughout the total test period of 174 minutes (starting in the pre-intervention period and during the following test situations and all resting periods)]
Galvanic skin response	The test person is fitted with electrodes on two fingers and galvanic skin response is measured non-invasively.	Measured continuously throughout the total test period of 174 minutes (starting in the pre-intervention period and during the following test situations and all resting periods)]
Salivary cortisol	Saliva is obtained from the test subject with a cotton swab which is chewed for one minute.	Measured at the end of the 30 minute pre-intervention period (t=30 minutes)]
Salivary cortisol	Saliva is obtained from the test subject with a cotton swab which is chewed for one minute	Measured at the end of Rest Period 1 (t=47 minutes)]
Salivary cortisol	Saliva is obtained from the test subject with a cotton swab which is chewed for one minute	Measured after Post-pain test 1 (t=62 minutes)]
Salivary cortisol	Saliva is obtained from the test subject with a cotton swab which is chewed for one minute	Measured at the end of Rest period 2 (t=74 minutes)]
Salivary cortisol	Saliva is obtained from the test subject with a cotton swab which is chewed for one minute	Measured after Post-pain test 2 (t=89 minutes)]
Salivary cortisol	Saliva is obtained from the test subject with a cotton swab which is chewed for one minute	Measured at the end of Rest period 3 (t=119 minutes)]
Salivary cortisol	Saliva is obtained from the test subject with a cotton swab which is chewed for one minute	Measured after MAST test (t=134 minutes)]
Salivary cortisol	Saliva is obtained from the test subject with a cotton swab which is chewed for one minute	Measured 5 minutes after MAST test (t=139 minutes)]
Salivary cortisol	Saliva is obtained from the test subject with a cotton swab which is chewed for one minute	Measured 10 minutes after MAST test (t=144 minutes)]
Salivary cortisol	Saliva is obtained from the test subject with a cotton swab which is chewed for one minute	Measured 20 minutes after MAST test (t=154 minutes)]
Salivary cortisol	Saliva is obtained from the test subject with a cotton swab which is chewed for one minute	Measured 30 minutes after MAST test (t=164 minutes)]
Salivary cortisol	Saliva is obtained from the test subject with a cotton swab which is chewed for one minute	Measured 40 minutes after MAST test (t=174 minutes)]
Visual analogue scales measuring expected psychological and physiological effects of the test day including, including the two test situation and the rest periods	Test persons fill in a visual analogue scale. Minimum value -100 (very negative effect) and maximum value 100 (very positive effect), and 0 being neutral.	Baseline: Measured at onset of the 30 minute pre-intervention period (t=0 minutes)]
Visual analogue scales measuring expected psychological and physiological effects of the two test situations	Test persons fill in a visual analogue scale. Minimum value -100 (very negative effect) and maximum value 100 (very positive effect), and 0 being neutral.	: Measured immediately preceding Pain test 1 (t=47 minutes]
Visual analogue scales measuring expected psychological and physiological effects of the two test situations	Test persons fill in a visual analogue scale. Minimum value -100 (very negative effect) and maximum value 100 (very positive effect), and 0 being neutral.	: Measured immediately preceding Pain test 2 (t=74 minutes]
Visual analogue scales measuring expected psychological and physiological effects of the two test situations	Test persons fill in a visual analogue scale. Minimum value -100 (very negative effect) and maximum value 100 (very positive effect), and 0 being neutral.	: Measured immediately preceding MAST test (t=119 minutes]
Visual analogue scales measuring perceived psychological and physiological effects of each of the two test situations	Test persons fill in a visual analogue scale. Minimum value -100 (very negative effect) and maximum value 100 (very positive effect), and 0 being neutral.	Measured immediately following Pain test 1(t=52 minutes)
Visual analogue scales measuring perceived psychological and physiological effects of each of the two test situations	Test persons fill in a visual analogue scale. Minimum value -100 (very negative effect) and maximum value 100 (very positive effect), and 0 being neutral.	Measured immediately following Pain test 2 (t=79 minutes)
Visual analogue scales measuring perceived psychological and physiological effects of each of the two test situations	Test persons fill in a visual analogue scale. Minimum value -100 (very negative effect) and maximum value 100 (very positive effect), and 0 being neutral.	Measured immediately following MAST test 1 (t=134 minutes)
Visual analogue scales measuring perceived psychological and physiological effects of of the test day including the test situations and rest period	Test persons fill in a visual analogue scale. Minimum value -100 (very negative effect) and maximum value 100 (very positive effect), and 0 being neutral.	Measured immediately after Rest period 4 (t=174 minutes)
The State-Trait Anxiety Inventory (STAI)	State anxiety is measured with the STAI-scale (minimum score= 20, maximum score= 80, and a lower score indicates a high anxiety level)	Baseline: Measured at onset of the 30 minute pre-intervention period preceding the first test situation (t=0 minutes)]
The State-Trait Anxiety Inventory (STAI)	State anxiety is measured with the STAI-scale (minimum score= 20, maximum score= 80, and a lower score indicates a high anxiety level)	Measured immediately following Pain test 1 (t= 52 minutes)
The State-Trait Anxiety Inventory (STAI)	State anxiety is measured with the STAI-scale (minimum score= 20, maximum score= 80, and a lower score indicates a high anxiety level)	Measured immediately following Pain test 2 (t= 79 minutes)
The State-Trait Anxiety Inventory (STAI)	State anxiety is measured with the STAI-scale (minimum score= 20, maximum score= 80, and a lower score indicates a high anxiety level)	Measured immediately following MAST test 1 (t=134 minutes)
The State-Trait Anxiety Inventory (STAI)	State anxiety is measured with the STAI-scale (minimum score= 20, maximum score= 80, and a lower score indicates a high anxiety level)	Measured immediately after Rest period 4 (t=174 minutes)
The Positive and Negative Affect Schedule (PANAS)	Positive and negative affect is measured with the PANAS scale, where the person scores whether or not they experience each of 20 emotions on a 5-step scale from "very little /not at all" to "extremely much". The emotions differ in valens.	Baseline: Measured at onset of the 30 minute pre-intervention period preceding the first test situation (t=0 minutes)]
The Positive and Negative Affect Schedule (PANAS)	Positive and negative affect is measured with the PANAS scale, where the person scores whether or not they experience each of 20 emotions on a 5-step scale from "very little /not at all" to "extremely much". The emotions differ in valens.	Measured immediately following Pain test 1 (t= 52 minutes)
The Positive and Negative Affect Schedule (PANAS)	Positive and negative affect is measured with the PANAS scale, where the person scores whether or not they experience each of 20 emotions on a 5-step scale from "very little /not at all" to "extremely much". The emotions differ in valens.	Measured immediately following Pain test 2 (t= 79 minutes)
The Positive and Negative Affect Schedule (PANAS)	Positive and negative affect is measured with the PANAS scale, where the person scores whether or not they experience each of 20 emotions on a 5-step scale from "very little /not at all" to "extremely much". The emotions differ in valens.	Measured immediately following MAST test 1 (t=134 minutes)
The Positive and Negative Affect Schedule (PANAS)	Positive and negative affect is measured with the PANAS scale, where the person scores whether or not they experience each of 20 emotions on a 5-step scale from "very little /not at all" to "extremely much". The emotions differ in valens.	Measured immediately after Rest period 4 (t=174 minutes)
Quantitative behavioural measures - frequencies of behavioural elements	A video recording of the test persons behaviour is analysed for frequency of sitting.	Measured continuously throughout the total test period of 174 minutes (starting in the pre-intervention period and during the following test situations and all resting periods)]
Quantitative behavioural measures - frequencies of behavioural elements	A video recording of the test persons behaviour is analysed for frequency of standing.	Measured continuously throughout the total test period of 174 minutes (starting in the pre-intervention period and during the following test situations and all resting periods)]
Quantitative behavioural measures - frequencies of behavioural elements	A video recording of the test persons behaviour is analysed for frequency of walking.	Measured continuously throughout the total test period of 174 minutes (starting in the pre-intervention period and during the following test situations and all resting periods)]
Quantitative behavioural measures - frequencies of behavioural elements	A video recording of the test persons behaviour is analysed for frequency of touching the dog (being in physical contact with the dog with the hand or another part of the body, only in the arm: Dog)	Measured continuously throughout the total test period of 174 minutes (starting in the pre-intervention period and during the following test situations and all resting periods)]
Quantitative behavioural measures - frequencies of behavioural elements	A video recording of the test persons behaviour is analysed for frequency of looking at the dog (having the head turned towards the dog, only in the arm: Dog).	Measured continuously throughout the total test period of 174 minutes (starting in the pre-intervention period and during the following test situations and all resting periods)]
Quantitative behavioural measures - frequencies of behavioural elements	A video recording of the test persons behaviour is analysed for frequency of talking to the dog (Only in the arm: Dog).	Measured continuously throughout the total test period of 174 minutes (starting in the pre-intervention period and during the following test situations and all resting periods)]
Quantitative behavioural measures - duration of behavioural elements	A video recording of the test persons behaviour is analysed for the duration (seconds) of sitting.	Measured continuously throughout the total test period of 174 minutes (starting in the pre-intervention period and during the following test situations and all resting periods)]
Quantitative behavioural measures - duration of behavioural elements	A video recording of the test persons behaviour is analysed for the duration (seconds) of standing.	Measured continuously throughout the total test period of 174 minutes (starting in the pre-intervention period and during the following test situations and all resting periods)]
Quantitative behavioural measures - duration of behavioural elements	A video recording of the test persons behaviour is analysed for the duration (seconds) of walking.	Measured continuously throughout the total test period of 174 minutes (starting in the pre-intervention period and during the following test situations and all resting periods)]
Quantitative behavioural measures - duration of behavioural elements	A video recording of the test persons behaviour is analysed for the duration (seconds) of touching the dog (being in physical contact with the dog with the hand or another part of the body, only in the arm: Dog).	Measured continuously throughout the total test period of 174 minutes (starting in the pre-intervention period and during the following test situations and all resting periods)]
Quantitative behavioural measures - duration of behavioural elements	A video recording of the test persons behaviour is analysed for the duration (seconds) of looking at the dog (having the head turned towards the dog, only in the arm: Dog).	Measured continuously throughout the total test period of 174 minutes (starting in the pre-intervention period and during the following test situations and all resting periods)]
Quantitative behavioural measures - duration of behavioural elements	A video recording of the test persons behaviour is analysed for the duration (seconds) of talking to the dog (Only in the arm: Dog).	Measured continuously throughout the total test period of 174 minutes (starting in the pre-intervention period and during the following test situations and all resting periods)]

Collaborators and Investigators

• Sponsor: University of Aarhus
• Investigators: Principal Investigator: Karen Thodberg, PhD, University of Aarhus

Study record dates

Study Major Dates

• Study Start (ACTUAL): May 1, 2021
• Primary Completion (ACTUAL): October 17, 2021
• Study Completion (ACTUAL): October 17, 2021

Study Registration Dates

• First Submitted: April 14, 2021
• First Submitted That Met QC Criteria: April 28, 2021
• First Posted (ACTUAL): April 29, 2021

Study Record Updates

• Last Update Posted (ACTUAL): November 10, 2021
• Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria: November 9, 2021
• Last Verified: April 1, 2021

More Information

Terms related to this study

• Keywords: Human-animal contact; Non-invasive measure; Animal-assisted contact
• Other Study ID Numbers: ANIMAL CONTACT2; 128534 (Other Grant/Funding Number: TrygFonden)

Plan for Individual participant data (IPD)

• Plan to Share Individual Participant Data (IPD)?: NO

Drug and device information, study documents

• Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated drug product: No
• Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated device product: No