At the HAB Lab, we are committed to conducting cutting-edge research exploring how the human-animal bond enriches human and animal lives. Our research uses a biopsychosocial approach to explore the psychological, social, and physiological effects of human-animal interactions across diverse populations and settings. By shedding light on the dynamic relationship between humans and companion animals, we aim to influence policies, practices, and interventions that positively impact individuals, families, and communities.
Below are some of the projects we are currently working on:
Facility Dogs in Police Stations
Police officers are faced with a challenging line of work, putting them at risk for posttraumatic stress, anxiety, and job-related burnout. “Station Dogs” that work as facility dogs in police stations may provide many mental health benefits. However, research on the effects that these dogs may have in police station environments has been limited. Our research aims to fill this gap to measure the effects of Station Dogs on job-related outcomes and indicators of mental and behavioral health for law enforcement officers.
This research is funded by the Human-Animal Bond Research Institute as well as the National Institute of Justice (NIJ) in collaboration with nonprofit organization K9s For Warriors and researchers at the CNA Institute for Public Research.
Service Dogs for Veterans with PTSD
Psychiatric service dogs are an increasingly popular complementary intervention for military veterans with posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Research from the OHAIRE Lab at UA-CVM has found that service dogs can lead to clinically significant improvements in biological, social, and psychological functioning for veterans with PTSD. However, despite growing research in this area, there is currently no scientific evidence on whether having a service dog impacts veterans’ engagement with other evidence-based treatments for PTSD. The HAB Lab is collaborating with the OHAIRE Lab to conduct a pilot study to assess whether psychiatric service dogs can improve prolonged exposure therapy (PE) for PTSD.
This research is funded by Endeavors and the University of Arizona One Health Initiative in collaboration with nonprofit service dog providers K9s For Warriors and Canine Companions.
Role of Pets in Promoting Positive Mental Wellbeing
The HAB Lab has ongoing research investigating whether pets, including companion dogs and cats, can have benefits to mental wellbeing across the lifespan. A particular interest is in aging populations, where we will are exploring how aging adults talk to their pets, and the role of pet presence on momentary wellbeing outcomes.
This research is funded by the Waltham Petcare Science Institute in collaboration with the Behavioral Research Across Years (BRAY) Lab, the Human Memory Lab, the Neuroscience of Emotion and Thought (NET) Lab, and the Naturalistic Observation of Social Interaction (NOSI) Lab.
Therapy Dogs in Children’s Hospitals
Therapy dogs in hospital environments have been known to boost morale among patients and their families, but their effects on the staff have been less explored. The HAB Lab is collaborating with the OHAIRE Lab at University of Arizona on ongoing research to evaluate the benefits of full-time facility dogs on the health and wellbeing of pediatric healthcare professionals in children’s hospitals across the US. This research is in collaboration with nonprofit organization Canine Assistants.
The HAB Lab is also collaborating on research investigating the psychophysiological mechanisms underlying child-therapy dog interactions in pediatric oncology settings. This work is funded by the National Cancer Institute in collaboration with the Duke Children’s Hospital, the Canine Instruction with Instrumented Gadgets Administering Rewards (CIGAR) lab and the Thinking Pets Lab at North Carolina State University.
