Program
Special Education M.A.
Year Approved
2018
First Advisor
Meras, Patricia
Abstract
Research has shown that incorporating the use of a therapy dog in a school setting can reduce stress and anxiety, lower blood pressure, promote positive social interactions among peers, boost confidence, and increase motivation for learning in certain academic areas such as reading. The presence of a therapy dog generates an overall calming atmosphere in the classroom, resulting in students who are more willing to participate, engage in empathy, and display responsibility. The author of this thesis researched the social, emotional, and cognitive benefits of utilizing a therapy dog in the school setting with students with disabilities. A literature review was conducted to determine patterns of beneficial components of using a therapy dog in the classroom, recognize risks of using a therapy dog in the classroom, and to glean ideas for using therapy dogs effectively in schools for students with disabilities.
Degree Name
Special Education M.A.
Document Type
Masterʼs thesis
Creative Commons License
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-No Derivative Works 4.0 International License.
Recommended Citation
Molde, R. D. (2018). Social Emotional and Cognitive Benefits of Animal Assisted Therapy for Students With Disabilities [Masterʼs thesis, Bethel University]. Spark Repository. https://spark.bethel.edu/etd/449