Megan K. Mueller
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View article: A pilot randomized controlled trial to examine the impact of a therapy dog intervention on loneliness in adult patients hospitalized in a psychiatric unit
A pilot randomized controlled trial to examine the impact of a therapy dog intervention on loneliness in adult patients hospitalized in a psychiatric unit Open
Background and objectives Loneliness has been linked to a number of health threats and is associated with significant morbidity and mortality risks among people with mental illness. Loneliness fully mediates the relationship between societ…
View article: Pet Companionship Among International Students in the U.S.: Motivations and Challenges
Pet Companionship Among International Students in the U.S.: Motivations and Challenges Open
Over one million international students from 207 countries study in the United States to pursue their academic goals. Transitioning to an unfamiliar country presents numerous challenges, and existing support structures often fail to fully …
View article: Longitudinal idiographic assessment of adolescent-dog relationships and adaptive coping for youth with social anxiety: The Teen & Dog Study protocol
Longitudinal idiographic assessment of adolescent-dog relationships and adaptive coping for youth with social anxiety: The Teen & Dog Study protocol Open
The Teen & Dog Study is a longitudinal research project aimed at understanding the impact of youth-dog relationships on youth coping with social anxiety. The study will follow 514 United States adolescents (ages 13–17) with high social anx…
View article: A Pilot Randomized Controlled Trial to Examine the Impact of a Therapy Dog Intervention on Depression, Mood, and Anxiety in Hospitalized Older Adults
A Pilot Randomized Controlled Trial to Examine the Impact of a Therapy Dog Intervention on Depression, Mood, and Anxiety in Hospitalized Older Adults Open
Background/Objectives: Aging adults are at an increased risk of depression, anxiety, and poor mood. Research indicates that interacting with companion animals may benefit vulnerable older adults’ mental health. Methods: This study randomly…
View article: Physician perceptions and understanding of pet ownership in healthcare compliance and patient well-being: a one health investigation
Physician perceptions and understanding of pet ownership in healthcare compliance and patient well-being: a one health investigation Open
Introduction Pets contribute positively to human mental and physical health outcomes but can also impose financial obligations and personal responsibilities that may impede pet owners from accessing healthcare services, especially by restr…
View article: Behavior Coding of Adolescent and Therapy Dog Interactions During a Social Stress Task
Behavior Coding of Adolescent and Therapy Dog Interactions During a Social Stress Task Open
Youth mental health interventions incorporating trained therapy animals are increasingly popular, but more research is needed to understand the specific interactive behaviors between participants and therapy dogs. Understanding the role of…
View article: Recruitment Feasibility for a Randomized Controlled Pilot Study of Animal-Assisted Intervention for Hospitalized Older Adults
Recruitment Feasibility for a Randomized Controlled Pilot Study of Animal-Assisted Intervention for Hospitalized Older Adults Open
This study evaluated the feasibility of recruiting hospitalized older adults into a randomized controlled trial (RCT) comparing an animal-assisted intervention (AAI) involving visits from therapy dogs with an active control (conversation w…
View article: A PILOT RCT TO EXAMINE THE IMPACT OF A THERAPY DOG INTERVENTION ON LONELINESS IN HOSPITALIZED OLDER ADULTS
A PILOT RCT TO EXAMINE THE IMPACT OF A THERAPY DOG INTERVENTION ON LONELINESS IN HOSPITALIZED OLDER ADULTS Open
Loneliness is linked to significant health threats and is potentially more dangerous than obesity; it affects as many as 29% of noninstitutionalized older adults. Loneliness is exacerbated for those who require inpatient rehabilitation, ar…
View article: Behavior Coding of Adolescent and Therapy Dog Interactions During a Social Stress Task
Behavior Coding of Adolescent and Therapy Dog Interactions During a Social Stress Task Open
Youth mental health interventions incorporating trained therapy animals are increasingly popular, but more research is needed to understand the specific interactive behaviors between participants and therapy dogs. Understanding the role of…
View article: Longitudinal patterns of companion animals in families with children during the COVID-19 pandemic: Findings from the Adolescent Brain Cognitive Development (ABCD) Study®
Longitudinal patterns of companion animals in families with children during the COVID-19 pandemic: Findings from the Adolescent Brain Cognitive Development (ABCD) Study® Open
Pet acquisition purportedly increased during the COVID-19 pandemic with individuals acquiring pets during periods of social isolation. Families with children experienced unique challenges during the COVID-19 pandemic, balancing childcare, …
View article: Informing Modifications to Social Participation and Navigation (SPAN) for Adolescents with Social Anxiety Incorporating Pet Dogs
Informing Modifications to Social Participation and Navigation (SPAN) for Adolescents with Social Anxiety Incorporating Pet Dogs Open
Background: Social anxiety is one of the most prevalent mental health challenges of adolescence and profoundly impacts social participation. This study obtained adolescent and parent feedback to inform a future modification of Social Navig…
View article: Measuring social and emotional functioning as a facet of positive youth development among children and adolescents in special education and mental health treatment
Measuring social and emotional functioning as a facet of positive youth development among children and adolescents in special education and mental health treatment Open
This study assessed the validity of a set of social and emotional functioning constructs derived from the PYD short form (PYD‐SF) measure within a sample of children and adolescents with one or more mental health diagnoses related to socia…
View article: A Pilot Randomized Controlled Trial to Examine the Impact of a Therapy Dog Intervention on Loneliness in Hospitalized Older Adults
A Pilot Randomized Controlled Trial to Examine the Impact of a Therapy Dog Intervention on Loneliness in Hospitalized Older Adults Open
Background and Objectives Loneliness is linked to significant health threats and is potentially more dangerous than obesity; it affects as many as 29% of noninstitutionalized older adults. Loneliness is exacerbated for those who require in…
View article: Companion animals and the relationship between peer victimization and emotion regulation in youth
Companion animals and the relationship between peer victimization and emotion regulation in youth Open
Peer victimization can negatively impact emotion regulation in youth and is associated with harmful mental health outcomes. One protective factor against the impacts of peer victimization is a strong attachment to family and positive peer …
View article: Longitudinal associations between pet relationship quality and socio‐emotional functioning in early adolescence
Longitudinal associations between pet relationship quality and socio‐emotional functioning in early adolescence Open
Adolescence is a key developmental period for socio‐emotional skills, and companion animal relationships may be one potential source of emotional support and resilience during this time. This study used longitudinal data from 940 pet‐ownin…
View article: Feasibility of using ecological momentary assessment to measure the effects of interactions with pet dogs on psychophysiological reactivity in adolescents with social anxiety
Feasibility of using ecological momentary assessment to measure the effects of interactions with pet dogs on psychophysiological reactivity in adolescents with social anxiety Open
Adolescence is a key developmental period for the onset of social anxiety, as it is a time of social transitions and stressors. Therefore, it is important to identify protective factors within the environment that can prevent and/or reduce…
View article: The Routledge International Handbook of Human-Animal Interactions and Anthrozoology
The Routledge International Handbook of Human-Animal Interactions and Anthrozoology Open
Horses and humans have moved together throughout history since their domestication 6,000 years ago. Though weighing an average of 1,000 pounds, horses create a purposeful therapeutic space where their size aids participants in understandin…
View article: Navigating pathways for careers in human-animal interaction: A guide for advisors and mentors
Navigating pathways for careers in human-animal interaction: A guide for advisors and mentors Open
This article is intended to help academic faculty and advisors mentor students who are interested in entering the field of human-animal interaction. Even though the field has grown significantly in the last several decades, there is still …
View article: Associations between Pet Care Responsibility, Companion Animal Interactions, and Family Relationships during COVID-19
Associations between Pet Care Responsibility, Companion Animal Interactions, and Family Relationships during COVID-19 Open
For families with children during the COVID-19 pandemic, it is crucial to explore how both youth and parents view their roles with regard to the shared caretaking of pets. While most human–animal interaction studies examine adult or early …
View article: Exploring Children’s Experiences Following Sport-Related Concussions
Exploring Children’s Experiences Following Sport-Related Concussions Open
Objectives: To gain a better understanding of the emotional and mental experiences of child and adolescent athletes following a sport-related concussion, in order to better support these athletes throughout recovery.
Methods: Adolescents …
View article: From Regulating Emotions to Less Lonely Screen Time: Parents’ Qualitative Perspectives of the Benefits and Challenges of Adolescent Pet Companionship
From Regulating Emotions to Less Lonely Screen Time: Parents’ Qualitative Perspectives of the Benefits and Challenges of Adolescent Pet Companionship Open
Adolescence is a prime developmental period to explore human–pet relationships, particularly given that teens are often relying less on their families, and more on other attachment figures such as peers and pets. However, most research on …
View article: Companion Animals and Adolescent Stress and Adaptive Coping During the COVID-19 Pandemic
Companion Animals and Adolescent Stress and Adaptive Coping During the COVID-19 Pandemic Open
The COVID-19 pandemic has resulted in significant social disruptions for youth caused by lockdowns, school closures, and a lack of in-person social interactions. Companion animals are prevalent in US households and may provide a source of …
View article: Hot topics in interventional cardiology: Proceedings from the society for cardiovascular angiography and interventions (SCAI) 2021 think tank
Hot topics in interventional cardiology: Proceedings from the society for cardiovascular angiography and interventions (SCAI) 2021 think tank Open
The Society for Cardiovascular Angiography and Interventions (SCAI) Think Tank is a collaborative venture that brings together interventional cardiologists, administrative partners, and select members of the cardiovascular industry communi…
View article: Assessing Service-Learning in Community-Based Veterinary Medicine as a Pedagogical Approach to Promoting Student Confidence in Addressing Access to Veterinary Care
Assessing Service-Learning in Community-Based Veterinary Medicine as a Pedagogical Approach to Promoting Student Confidence in Addressing Access to Veterinary Care Open
Community-based veterinary medicine is a growing field, and veterinary students need to be able to work with clients facing complex barriers to receiving veterinary care for their pet. Many veterinary clients experience challenges accessin…
View article: Companion Animal Relationships and Adolescent Loneliness during COVID-19
Companion Animal Relationships and Adolescent Loneliness during COVID-19 Open
The pandemic associated with the emergence of the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) is an unprecedented historical event with the potential to significantly impact adolescent loneliness. This study aimed to explore the role of companion animals…
View article: Null effects of therapy dog interaction on adolescent anxiety during a laboratory-based social evaluative stressor
Null effects of therapy dog interaction on adolescent anxiety during a laboratory-based social evaluative stressor Open
We found no evidence that the presence of a real dog, with or without the opportunity to touch it, reduced anxiety or autonomic reactivity or improved cognitive performance relative to the presence of a stuffed dog in the control condition…