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Journal of Animal Science and Technology
Korean Society of Animal Science and Technology

J Anim Sci Technol

pISSN: 2672-0191, eISSN: 2055-0391

DOI: https://doi.org/10.5187/jast.2025.e5

Article

Effects of Canine-Assisted Intervention on Stress and Depression in Humans

Yujin Song1, Youngwook Jung1, Yeonju Choi1, Minjung Yoon1,2,3,*
1Department of Animal Science and Biotechnology, Kyungpook National University, Sangju 37224, Korea.
2Department of Horse, Companion, and Wild Animal Science, Kyungpook National University, Sangju 37224, Korea.
3Research Institute for Innovative Animal Science, Kyungpook National University, Sangju 37224, Korea.
*Corresponding Author: Minjung Yoon, Department of Animal Science and Biotechnology, Kyungpook National University, Sangju 37224, Korea, Republic of. Department of Horse, Companion, and Wild Animal Science, Kyungpook National University, Sangju 37224, Korea, Republic of. Research Institute for Innovative Animal Science, Kyungpook National University, Sangju 37224, Korea, Republic of. E-mail: mjyoonemail@gmail.com.

© Copyright 2025 Korean Society of Animal Science and Technology. This is an Open-Access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution Non-Commercial License (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0/) which permits unrestricted non-commercial use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited.

Received: Nov 21, 2024; Revised: Jan 03, 2025; Accepted: Jan 04, 2025

Published Online: Jan 06, 2025

Abstract

The demand for mental health support systems has been increasing because of the rising prevalence of mental health issues globally. These challenges have been addressed with animal-assisted intervention. Animal-assisted intervention has gained recognition as an effective method that enhances emotional stability and fosters social bonds. Canine-assisted intervention, a subset of animal-assisted intervention that involves dogs, is recognized for its effectiveness in managing stress and depression in humans. Despite the development of various canine-assisted intervention programs, scientific data evaluating the efficacy of each program are insufficient. Customized programs that address individuals’ symptoms and needs are also necessary to effectively manage stress and depression. As such, generalizing the effects of Canine-assisted intervention on diverse situations remains challenging. This review aims to identify the most effective canine-assisted intervention programs for various target groups and suggest strategies that maximize the effects of canine-assisted intervention programs by consolidating various biometric indicators and physiological evaluation tools and by analyzing the effects of canine-assisted intervention through multiple approaches. It examines current studies demonstrating how interactions with therapy dogs lead to remarkable psychological and physiological changes, including reductions in stress indicators (such as cortisol levels and heart rates) and improvements in the overall mood and emotional well-being. Furthermore, this paper evaluates the effectiveness of canine-assisted intervention in various settings, highlighting its potential as a therapeutic intervention and preventative measure in mental health care. Based on previous findings, this review provides a comprehensive overview of the role of canine-assisted intervention in enhancing human mental health and its potential for broader implementation in clinical and non-clinical environments.

Keywords: canine-assisted intervention; stress; depression; well-being