Pendry Human Animal Interaction Lab
Dr. Patricia Pendry’s takes a biobehavioral approach towards examining effects of human animal interaction (HAI) on human and animal functioning and wellbeing. Her research examines 1) the causal effects of animal assisted interventions (AAIs) in preventing and/or reducing the physiological ramifications of social and academic stress in children, youth and college students and 2) the quality of dyadic and triadic interactions during AAIs to elucidate the mediating pathways underlying effects on human and animal functioning, health and wellbeing.
Focused on equine, feline and canine-assisted curricula, programs and activities, she conducts randomized controlled efficacy trials in real-life settings to examine their effects on individuals’ emotion regulation with an emphasis on activity of the Hypothalamic Pituitary Adrenal (HPA) axis as measured through salivary cortisol. Basal and diurnal parameters of cortisol production and physiological indicators of momentary reactivity and recovery to various animal assisted activities (AAA)s are examined as potential mediators between effects of HAI exposure on stress-related mental health symptoms, executive functioning, and academic skills and behavior. Physiological and behavioral synchrony between humans and animals during interactions is explored.
Based video recorded interactions, she analyzes interactions and engagement between AAI participants (e.g., clients, animals and handlers) to capture the quality and quantity of dyadic and triadic interactions and develop psychometrically sound measures to capture pathways underlying effects of AAIs on human and animal functioning, health and wellbeing.
Her work is situated in a developmental science perspective, includes basic and applied approaches from human development, anthrozoology, animal assisted intervention, ethology and behavior, developmental psycho neuroendocrinology, psychometrics, and prevention science (e.g., program design, implementation and evaluation).
Dr. Pendry and her students are involved in a wide variety of research projects:
PETPALS – Pets for Promotion of Academic Life Skills: Funded by MARS/WALTHAM, the PETPALS study is a randomized controlled trial examining the effects of college-based, animal-assisted stress prevention programs on human and animal participants. The main goal of this study is to examine the causal effects of infusing various levels of HAI (Human Animal Interaction) on college students’ executive functioning, motivation and learning, mental health symptomatology (anxiety, perceived stress, depression, and worry) and stress-related physiology (diurnal and momentary cortisol and alpha-amylase production). Another goal is to better understand the effects of participation in HAI programming on stress behavior of emotional support animals, and the role played by the quality of HAI on human and animal outcomes. Interactions during sessions are video recorded and used to assess the quality of dyadic and triadic interactions and their influence on human stress system reactivity and recovery, as well as animal wellbeing.
Pet-Assisted Wellbeing for University Students (PAWs4US) – This is a randomized trial to examine the extent to which regular exposure to canine visitation programming through a semester-long, weekly drop-in program featuring registered therapy dogs shapes trajectories of emotional, academic and behavioral adjustment of incoming college freshmen. In addition, this study measures the extent to which students experience distress due to separation of their childhood pet during their first semester at college, and to what extent students’ academic and self-care behaviors are influenced by this relationship. We also examine how student characteristics including perceived stress, emotion states and history of mental health symptoms shape their attendance and uptake of the drop-in program.
PAWs4US Handler Involvement Study – This study aims to develop a measurement tool to assess the quality of human-animal interactions during AAIs to examine the effects of dyadic and triadic interaction quality on animal wellbeing. Canine therapy teams are videorecorded during semester-long, weekly drop-in sessions conducted as part of the PAWs4US study – see above – and behaviors of both handlers and dogs are analyzed across various dimensions to ascertain the quality and quantity of interaction. Handlers report on their and their dogs characteristics, skills, training and experiences, as well as short descriptions of their and their dog’s perceived emotional states and behavior before, during and after program sessions.
Cats and Canines Study: In this study, we examine college student Animal Assisted Intervention (AAI) preferences regarding two specific dimensions: (1) the species of the animal involved – and the potential of including cats rather than dogs (i.e. between-species differences); and (2) particular visual and behavioral characteristics of an animal cats or dogs that students find appealing (i.e. within-species differences). Moreover, we examine whether students’ preferences are dependent on individual characteristics, such as their gender, history and current features of pet ownership and identification with being a cat or a dog person, their perceived levels of stress and vulnerability for mental health problems, and current living arrangements.
Pet your Stress Away Study: This randomized control trial examined the efficacy of an animal-assisted stress reduction program with dogs and cats conducted at a college campus in the week leading up to final exams examining effects of a 10-minute session of canine and feline petting on students’ momentary emotion, perceptions of stress, and momentary cortisol levels. The study also examined the presence and nature of canine stress behavior throughout the interaction session and tested the reliability of an in situ tool to assess stress behavior of dogs.
Physiology and Emotion during Human Equine Interaction: This study examined the diurnal and momentary activity of adolescents’ cortisol and alpha-amylase levels and their emotional and behavioral responses to various equine facilitated learning (EFL) program activities. The study linked these indices to student positive and negative behavior during sessions and explored avenues for facilitator training to assist students physiological downregulation to facilitate greater positive impact of mounted and unmounted activities.
PATH to Success Study: This NIH-funded, experimental study includes collaborators in the College of Education, Sport, and Human Sciences and the College of Veterinary Medicine, and is testing the effects of PATH to Success, a 12-week, equine-assisted growth and learning program, on 5th-8th grade children and the physiological pathways underlying these effects. Effects on individuals’ emotion regulation with an emphasis on activity of the Hypothalamic Pituitary Adrenal (HPA) axis as measured through salivary cortisol were emphasized. Basal and diurnal parameters of cortisol production and physiological indicators of momentary reactivity and recovery to various animal assisted activities (AAA)s are examined.