Animal interaction and academic stress: suggestive evidence, unanswered questions
A review found possible stress and anxiety benefits in educational settings, with especially limited evidence from schools and no established interaction schedule.
Based on the published abstract. The full paper may contain additional methods, results and limitations.
The 30-second takeaway
The review suggests that contact with animals may help with stress or anxiety in academic settings. University evidence drew on existing reviews, while school evidence was much smaller. These findings remain tentative: the abstract does not establish how large any benefit is, how long it lasts, or which form of interaction works best.
The university material was presented narratively, and the school evidence comprised few studies. The abstract supplies no effect estimates or comparison details, limiting confidence in how consistently the reported benefits would occur.
Different layers of evidence
The university discussion drew on 4 reviews or meta-analyses, while school findings came from 3 studies. These are different layers of evidence, so they should not be presented as one combined set of trials.
Symptoms and a stress marker
In schools, reports of lower anxiety sat alongside changes in salivary cortisol, which the abstract treats as a stress indicator. A change in that marker alone does not demonstrate improved mental health.
The original publication
Byron's bear and dwarf rabbits in the classroom: a review of animals against academic stress.
Erren TC, Glenewinkel F, Wild U et al.
Front Vet Sci · 2025
- PubMed ID
- 41479420
- Record checked
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