Effects of Watching Aquariums on Elders' Stress

DeSchriver, Mary M.; Riddick, Carol Cutler

doi:10.2752/089279391787057396

Cited by 59 publications

(39 citation statements)

References 7 publications

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“…Banks and Banks (2002) found decreased loneliness in long-term care residents after 6 weeks of AAT compared to a control group. Even fi sh in an aquarium have produced better nutritional habits and weight gain, greater alertness and social interaction, and less lethargy and agitation in SCU residents (DeSchriver & Riddick, 1990;Edwards & Beck, 2002).…”

Section: Animal-assisted Therapymentioning

confidence: 99%

A Look at the Ecotherapy Research Evidence

Chalquist

2009

Ecopsychology

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Ecotherapy is an umbrella term for a gathering of techniques and practices that lead to circles of mutual healing between the human mind and the natural world from which it evolved. It includes horticultural therapy, wilderness excursion work, time stress management, and certain kinds of animal-assisted therapy. This article provides an overview of research into ecotherapy's treatment efficacy and argues for a psychology of place designed to reconnect people psychologically with the world a place at a time.

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Section: Animal-assisted Therapymentioning

confidence: 99%

A Look at the Ecotherapy Research Evidence

Chalquist

2009

Ecopsychology

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“…Blood pressure and other autonomic responses to mild mental stress are lowered by the presence of a pet dog (Allen and Blascovich, 1991;Allen, Blascovich and Mendes, 2002;Kingwell, Lomdahl and Anderson, 2001). Watching fish swim peacefully around in an aquarium can have the same effect (De Schriver and Riddick, 1990). Further, one recent study showed that, while ace inhibitor (ACE) therapy lowers resting blood pressure, the presence of a pet is more effective if mild mental stress occurs (Allen and Shykoff, 2001).…”

Section: Pets and Human Health In Germany And Australia: National Lonmentioning

confidence: 99%

Pets and Human Health in Germany and Australia: National Longitudinal Results

2006

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Standard-Nutzungsbedingungen:Die Dokumente auf EconStor dürfen zu eigenen wissenschaftlichen Zwecken und zum Privatgebrauch gespeichert und kopiert werden.Sie dürfen die Dokumente nicht für öffentliche oder kommerzielle Zwecke vervielfältigen, öffentlich ausstellen, öffentlich zugänglich machen, vertreiben oder anderweitig nutzen.Sofern die Verfasser die Dokumente unter Open-Content-Lizenzen (insbesondere CC-Lizenzen) zur Verfügung gestellt haben sollten, gelten abweichend von diesen Nutzungsbedingungen die in der dort genannten Lizenz gewährten Nutzungsrechte. Terms of use: Documents in NATIONAL LONGITUDINAL RESULTS AbstractThe German and Australian longitudinal surveys analysed here are the first national representative surveys to show that (1) people who continuously own a pet are the healthiest group and (2) people who cease to have a pet or never had one are less healthy. Most previous studies which have claimed that pets confer health benefits were cross-sectional. So they were open to the objection that owners may have been healthier in the first place, rather than becoming healthier due to owning a pet. In both countries the data show that pet owners make about 15% fewer annual doctor visits than non-owners. The relationship remains statistically significant after controlling for gender, age, marital status, income and other variables associated with health.

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“…Evidence now suggests that videotapes of animals may serve as a potential alternative to the use of live animals in stressful situations. Thus, DeSchriver and Riddick (1990) reported decreases in the physiological stress levels of elderly people exposed to a videotape of fish swimming in an aquarium. More recently, Wells (2005) found that video recordings of fish, birds, and monkeys buffered participants from the stressor of reading aloud significantly more than exposure to moving images of people or blank television screens.…”

mentioning

confidence: 99%

The Effects of Animals on Human Health and Well‐Being

Wells

2009

Journal of Social Issues

311

222

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Substantial sums of money are invested annually in preventative medicine and therapeutic treatment for people with a wide range of physical and psychological health problems, sometimes to no avail. There is now mounting evidence to suggest that companion animals, such as dogs and cats, can enhance the health of their human owners and may thus contribute significantly to the health expenditure of our country. This paper explores the evidence that pets can contribute to human health and well-being. The article initially concentrates on the value of animals for short-and long-term physical health, before exploring the relationship between animals and psychological health, focusing on the ability of dogs, cats, and other species to aid the disabled and serve as a "therapist" to those in institutional settings. The paper also discusses the evidence for the ability of dogs to facilitate the diagnosis and treatment of specific chronic diseases, notably cancer, epilepsy, and diabetes. Mechanisms underlying the ability of animals to promote human health are discussed within a theoretical framework. Whereas the evidence for a direct causal association between human well-being and companion animals is not conclusive, the literature reviewed is largely supportive of the widely held, and long-standing, belief that "pets are good for us."

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Effects of Watching Aquariums on Elders' Stress

Cited by 59 publications

References 7 publications

A Look at the Ecotherapy Research Evidence

A Look at the Ecotherapy Research Evidence

Pets and Human Health in Germany and Australia: National Longitudinal Results

The Effects of Animals on Human Health and Well‐Being

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