Feeling Stressed Today? Go Pet Your Animal!
A new study has come into play that cuddling with a dog or cat can lower your stress levels! This is your doctor’s note to go home and cuddle your animal. Sometimes these studies we find are on our side and sometimes they’re not. Today, this new research is definitely on our side.
New research from Washington State University finds that spending time petting and playing with animals can relieve stress in just ten minutes.
The study included 250 students divided into four groups. Group One was allowed to pet cats and dogs for ten minutes while the second group just watched. With the third and fourth groups, there was no contact with the animals, but one was shown a slideshow of photos of the animals and the other was told they’d get to play with them later in the day.
Cortisol samples from all of the participants were collected via their saliva and found the people who got to actually pet the animals had significantly lower levels of the “stress hormone.”
So if you’re feeling stressed out, hang out with your four-legged bestie and feel that wave of calmness wash over you.
Intern Lynleigh Betchan – The MRL Morning Show
