Comparing the Stress-Reducing Effects of a Robotic Pet and a Weighted Toy

Comparing the Stress-Reducing Effects of a Robotic Pet and a Weighted Toy: A Randomised Experimental Study

The goal of this trial is to learn whether interacting with a robotic pet (Paro) or holding a weighted sensory toy can reduce stress in healthy adults after an acute stressful experience. The main questions it aims to answer are:

• Does interacting with Paro or holding a weighted toy lower self-reported stress and anxiety levels?
• Does interacting with Paro or holding a weighted toy lower physiological markers of stress, such as heart rate and blood pressure?

Researchers will compare interaction with Paro (robotic pet), interaction with a weighted sensory toy and a control group with no intervention to see which method is most effective in reducing stress.

Participants will:

1. Complete a stress induction task (Trier Social Stress Test);
2. Be randomly assigned to interact with Paro, hold a weighted toy, or sit quietly without intervention;
3. Have their heart rate and blood pressure measured;
4. Complete surveys about their stress, anxiety and mood before and after the intervention.

Study Overview

• Status: Not yet recruiting
• Conditions: Stress
• Intervention / Treatment: Device: Paro Robotic Companion Seal; Device: Weighted Sensory Toy

Detailed Description

The study investigates the immediate effectiveness of interacting with an interactive robotic pet (Paro, a robotic seal) or a weighted sensory modulation toy for reducing acute stress and anxiety. It aims to determine the comparative efficacy of these interventions relative to a control condition involving quiet relaxation. Participants will be randomly assigned to one of three experimental conditions: interaction with Paro, interaction with a weighted sensory toy, or a control group with no intervention.

All participants will first complete baseline measurements, including self-reported anxiety and stress assessments using validated instruments (State-Trait Anxiety Inventory, Positive and Negative Affect Schedule, and Visual Analog Scale), as well as physiological indicators of stress (heart rate and blood pressure). Subsequently, participants will undergo the Trier Social Stress Test (TSST), a validated procedure involving a brief public speaking task and mental arithmetic performed under evaluative conditions designed to induce moderate stress. Following the stress induction, participants will repeat stress and anxiety assessments and physiological measurements. They will then engage in their assigned intervention for 15 minutes. Post-intervention measurements of stress and anxiety, physiological markers, and perceived enjoyment/ engagement will be collected. Participants will also provide qualitative feedback regarding their intervention experiences.

• Study Type: Interventional
• Enrollment (Estimated): 51
• Phase: Not Applicable

Contacts and Locations

• Study Contact: Name: Nina Akulova; Phone Number: +64220903778; Email: naku935@aucklanduni.ac.nz

Study Locations

• New Zealand
  • Auckland, New Zealand, 1023
    • University of Auckland

Participation Criteria

Eligibility Criteria

• Ages Eligible for Study: Adult; Older Adult
• Accepts Healthy Volunteers: Yes

Description

Inclusion Criteria:

• over 18 years old
• fluent in English
• free from diagnosed anxiety or stress-related disorders

Exclusion Criteria:

• cardiovascular conditions that may affect heart rate and blood pressure measurements
• existing anxiety disorders or panic disorders.

Study Plan

How is the study designed?

Design Details

• Primary Purpose: Treatment
• Allocation: Randomized
• Interventional Model: Parallel Assignment
• Masking: None (Open Label)

Number of Arms

3

Arms and Interventions

Participant Group / Arm	Intervention / Treatment
Experimental: Paro Robot Interaction; Participants will interact with Paro, a robotic companion seal, for 15 minutes following a stress induction task. Paro responds to touch and sound.	Device: Paro Robotic Companion Seal; Paro is an interactive robotic companion designed to simulate the behaviour of a baby harp seal. It responds to touch, light, sound, posture and temperature, providing tactile and social interaction for stress relief.
Experimental: Weighted Toy Interaction; Participants will hold and interact with a weighted sensory toy for 15 minutes following a stress induction task. The weighted toy provides deep pressure stimulation for calming effects.	Device: Weighted Sensory Toy; A soft, weighted animal-shaped toy (dog) designed to provide deep pressure stimulation. Participants hold or interact with the toy for 15 minutes following a stress induction task to promote relaxation and stress reduction.
No Intervention: Control Group (No Intervention); Participants will sit quietly for 15 minutes without any intervention following a stress induction task. This group allows natural recovery from stress without external aids.

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Measure Description	Time Frame
Change in affect (Positive and Negative Affect Schedule - PANAS)	Positive and negative affect will be assessed using the PANAS at three time points. The primary outcome is the change in both subscale scores from post-stress to post-intervention across groups.	Baseline, immediately after stress induction and immediately after intervention (approximately 1 hour total)
Change in state anxiety scores (STAI-State short form)	Participants' state anxiety will be measured at baseline, after the stress induction task, and after the intervention using the six-item short-form State-Trait Anxiety Inventory (STAI-State). The primary comparison will be change in scores from post-stress to post-intervention across the three groups.	Baseline, immediately after stress induction, and immediately after intervention (~1 hour total)
Change in subjective stress levels (Visual Analog Scale for stress)	Participants will rate their current level of stress on a 100 mm Visual Analog Scale at three time points. The change from post-stress induction to post-intervention will be compared across groups.	Baseline, immediately after stress induction, and immediately after intervention (~1 hour total)

Secondary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Measure Description	Time Frame
Change in heart rate	Participants' heart rate will be measured at three time points (baseline, post-stress induction and post-intervention) using an automated digital monitor. HR will be measured in beats per minute (BPM).	Baseline, immediately after stress induction and immediately after intervention (approximately 1 hour total)
Change in blood pressure	Participants' blood pressure will be measured at three time points (baseline, post-stress induction and post-intervention) using an automated digital monitor. BP will be recorded in millimeters of mercury (mmHg), capturing both systolic (SBP) and diastolic (DBP) values.	Baseline, immediately after stress induction and immediately after intervention (approximately 1 hour total)
Participant ratings of enjoyment and engagement (VAS scales)	Participants in the Paro and Weighted Sensory Toy groups will complete visual analog scales (VAS) rating their enjoyment and engagement with the intervention. Each scale is 100 mm in length, anchored with "Not at all" (0 mm) to "Extremely" (100 mm). Higher scores indicate greater enjoyment or engagement.	Immediately after intervention (within approximately 1 hour of study start)
Qualitative feedback on participant experience	Participants will provide open-ended qualitative feedback about their experience with their assigned intervention (Paro, Weighted Toy or Control). Responses will be analysed using thematic analysis to identify common themes.	Immediately after intervention (within approximately 1 hour of study start)

Collaborators and Investigators

• Sponsor: University of Auckland, New Zealand
• Investigators: Principal Investigator: Elizabeth Broadbent, Professor, Department of Psychological Medicine, The University of Auckland

Study record dates

Study Major Dates

• Study Start (Estimated): May 1, 2025
• Primary Completion (Estimated): October 1, 2025
• Study Completion (Estimated): October 1, 2025

Study Registration Dates

• First Submitted: April 28, 2025
• First Submitted That Met QC Criteria: May 7, 2025
• First Posted (Actual): May 16, 2025

Study Record Updates

• Last Update Posted (Actual): May 16, 2025
• Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria: May 7, 2025
• Last Verified: May 1, 2025

More Information

Terms related to this study

• Keywords: Blood pressure; Heart rate; Stress reduction; Acute stress; Paro; Robotic pet; Weighted sensory toy; Deep pressure stimulation; Trier Social Stress Test (TSST); Human-robot interaction; Sensory modulation
• Additional Relevant MeSH Terms: Body Weight
• Other Study ID Numbers: 23002

Plan for Individual participant data (IPD)

• Plan to Share Individual Participant Data (IPD)?: NO
• IPD Plan Description: confidential. Ethical requirements are to keep individual data confidential.

Drug and device information, study documents

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