Furry Friends Help Alleviate Stress

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Recommended: What other suggestions do you have for dealing with stress at college and elsewhere

Attending college can be a little overwhelming for many young adults. College students throughout the United States, including those in attendance at Bloomsburg University, encounter challenges, uncertainties, and change on a regular basis. Conflicts with roommates, keeping up with the demands of course requirements, missing family and friends at home, and developing new relationships are just a few dynamics of college that can bring about a great deal of stress in a person’s day-to-day life. Therefore, it’s essential as Area Coordinators and Community Assistants, working with The Office of Residence Life, to help students find ways to cope with stress effectively before it reaches an unhealthy level and prevents any individual from thriving at this university. Routine visits by canine therapy dogs at Bloomsburg University could be a fun way to boost students’ spirits and allow them to de-stress during tense times.
On occasion, stress can drive students to drink, take illegal drugs, use tobacco, or develop harmful eating habits. These destructive behaviors may intensify the stress an individual is experiencing by detrimentally affecting their frame of mind and overall health. Freshman residing on campus may be exposed to the most stress due to the loss of support systems they depended on at home. In addition, like the majority of college students, they will struggle with high levels of stress and anxiety in their efforts to reach academic success. According to data gathered by the American College Health Association and reported in their Spring 2013 College Health Assessment, 84 percent of the students surveyed stated they “felt overwhelmed by all they had to do” (American College Health Association). Obviously, stress ...

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... 7 Apr. 2014. pdf file.
DORIE TURNER - AP Education, Writer. “Colleges Go To The Dogs For Stress Busters.” US News Online (2012): Points of View Reference Center. Web. 8 Apr. 2014.
Hughes, Matt. “Puppy Love for Stressed Students.” Bucknell University. Bucknell University, 2014. Web. 4 Apr. 2014.
Richter, Bryce. Bella Brings Smiles To Students’ Faces. 6 May 2010. Recent Sightings: Pet Therapy-News at UW-Madison. Web. 12 Apr. 2014. Photograph.
Richter, Bryce. Timbre Alleviates Stress For Students. 6 May 2010. Recent Sightings: Pet Therapy-News at UW-Madison. Web. 12 Apr. 2014. Photograph.
Rodarmel, Matthew. Telephone Interview. 5 Apr. 2014.
Shiloh, Shoshana, Gal Sorek, and Joseph Terkel. “Reduction Of State-Anxiety By Petting Animals In A Controlled Laboratory Experiment.” Anxiety, Stress & Coping 16.4 (2003): 387-395. SPORTDiscus with Full Text. Web. 3 Apr. 2014.

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