Beyond supplements and healthy habits that collectively improve the ability to relax and sleep, there is another activity that can further relieve stress and anxiousness: hanging out with a dog.
Spending quality time with dogs reduces stress and increases the power of brain waves associated with relaxation and concentration, according to2024 study published in PLOS One in the open-access journal PLOS ONE by Onyoo Yoo from Konkuk University, South Korea, and colleagues.
Animal-assisted interventions, such as canine therapy, are widely used in hospitals, schools and beyond to help reduce anxiety, relieve stress and foster feelings of trust.
Studies of the potential benefits of animal interactions often take a holistic approach, comparing people’s mood or hormone levels before and after spending time with a service animal.
In the study, 30 adult participants performed eight different activities with a well-trained dog, such as playing with a hand-held toy, giving her treats and taking pictures with her. Participants wore electroencephalography (EEG) electrodes to record electrical activity from the brain while they interacted with the dog, and they recorded their subjective emotional state immediately following each activity.
The relative strength of alpha-band oscillations in the brain increased while participants played with and walked the dog, reflecting a state of relaxed wakefulness. When grooming, gently massaging, or playing with the dog, relative beta-band oscillation strength increased, a boost typically linked to heightened concentration. Participants also reported feeling significantly less fatigued, depressed, and stressed after all dog-related activities.
Reference:
Yoo, et al. Psychophysiological and emotional effects of human–Dog interactions by activity type: An electroencephalogram study. PLOS ONE, 2024; 19 (3): e0298384.
