Sandra B Barker
Biographic Data
| ID | 122624 |
|---|---|
| NAME | Sandra B Barker |
| GIVEN NAMES | Sandra B |
| FAMILY NAME | Barker |
| SIGNATURE | BARKER S B |
| AFFILIATIONS | Virginia Commonwealth University |
| VERIFIED | No |
| TOTAL WORKS | 11 |
| TOTAL CITATIONS | 71 |
| AUTHOR COUNT | 11 |
| EDITOR COUNT | 0 |
| FIRST PUBLICATION YEAR | 2000 |
| LATEST PUBLICATION YEAR | 2025 |
| H-INDEX | 5 |
A pilot randomized controlled trial to examine the impact of a therapy dog intervention on loneliness in adult patients hospitalized in a psychiatric unit
clinicaltrials.gov identifier, NCT05089201
The relationship between pet ownership, social support, and internalizing symptoms in students from the first to fourth year of college
Internalizing symptoms are prevalent in students as they enter and complete college. Considering research suggesting mental health benefits of pet ownership, this study explores the relationship between pet ownership, social support (SS), and internalizing symptoms (IS) in a cohort of students across their 4-year college experience. With no differences at college entry, students growing up with pets had greater IS through the fourth year, and gre…
The Effect of a Canine-assisted Activity on College Student Perceptions of Family Supports and Current Stressors
Using data from a previously published study on effects of a canine-assisted activity (CAA) on college student stress the week before final examinations, we examined whether participation in this activity had effects on perceptions of 1) family supports (i.e., emotional distance to family members and pets) and 2) current stressors. A total of 74 students completed the Family Life Space Diagram (FLSD), which uses an individual's structured drawing…
A Randomized Cross-over Exploratory Study of the Effect of Visiting Therapy Dogs on College Student Stress Before Final Exams
This exploratory study investigated the effect of visiting therapy dogs on college-student perceived and physiological stress the week prior to final exams. Students (n = 78) were randomly assigned to order of a therapydog intervention and attention-control condition, each 15 minutes long. Students completed the Perceived Stress Scale (PSS), a stress visual analog scale (SVAS), and provided saliva for measuring nerve growth factor (sNGF) and alph…
The Effect of an Animal-Assisted Intervention on Anxiety and Pain in Hospitalized Children
Forty children between the ages of 8 and 18 years, who were admitted to a hospital pediatric unit, were randomly assigned to an animal-assisted intervention (AAI) or an active control condition (working on an age-appropriate jigsaw puzzle). Ratings of pain and anxiety were taken both pre- and post-condition. The attachment Questionnaire and Family Life Space Diagram (FLSD) also were administered, and information on medications taken was recorded.…
Exploratory Study of Stress-Buffering Response Patterns from Interaction with a Therapy Dog
This exploratory study builds on existing research on the physiological stress response to human–animal interactions in a non-clinical sample of adult dog-owners interacting with their own or an unfamiliar therapy dog under similar conditions. Participants were therapy-dog owners (TDO group; n = 5) interacting with their own dogs and dog owners interacting with an unfamiliar therapy dog (AAA group; n = 5). Following a 30minute baseline period, pa…
Measuring Stress and Immune Response in Healthcare Professionals following Interaction with a Therapy Dog
This study investigated the optimal time for measuring stress and immune function in 20 healthcare professionals (19 women and 1 man) following interaction with a therapy dog. A nonclinical sample of healthcare professionals was assigned to 20 min. of quiet rest, and 5 and 20 min. with a therapy dog. Serum cortisol, epinephrine, and norepinephrine were collected at baseline, 5, 15, 30, 45, and 60 min. postcondition. Salivary cortisol, salivary Ig…
Challenges in Designing Human-Animal Interaction Research
This article addresses challenges in designing Human-Animal Interaction (HAI) research. A summary of previous reviews of HAI research is presented, followed by a discussion of areas that present particular challenges to research in this field, specifically design issues, control of extraneous variables, sample selection, intervention development, and outcome measurement. Suggestions for addressing these areas also are presented
Benefits of Interacting with Companion Animals
Effect of aquariums on electroconvulsive therapy patients
This study investigates the effect of an aquarium on pre-treatment anxiety, fear. frustration, and depression in electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) patients. Forty-two patients consecutively referred for ECT were rotated between rooms with and without aquariums. Self report measures of depression, anxiety, fear, and frustration were obtained, along with heart rate and blood pressure measurements. Preliminary mixed-model, repeated measures analysis o…
Constraints in Assessing the Impact of Animals in Education
The primary purpose of this article is to delineate constraints researchers may encounter in assessing the impact of animals in education, even when using rigorous research designs. A case study is used as a framework for this discussion and consists of a project conducted in a pre-school setting, using a cross-over design to control for most threats to internal and external validity. The project is presented first, with a brief description of th…
A Randomized Cross-over Exploratory Study of the Effect of Visiting Therapy Dogs on College Student Stress Before Final Exams
This exploratory study investigated the effect of visiting therapy dogs on college-student perceived and physiological stress the week prior to final exams. Students (n = 78) were randomly assigned to order of a therapydog intervention and attention-control condition, each 15 minutes long. Students completed the Perceived Stress Scale (PSS), a stress visual analog scale (SVAS), and provided saliva for measuring nerve growth factor (sNGF) and alph…
Exploratory Study of Stress-Buffering Response Patterns from Interaction with a Therapy Dog
This exploratory study builds on existing research on the physiological stress response to human–animal interactions in a non-clinical sample of adult dog-owners interacting with their own or an unfamiliar therapy dog under similar conditions. Participants were therapy-dog owners (TDO group; n = 5) interacting with their own dogs and dog owners interacting with an unfamiliar therapy dog (AAA group; n = 5). Following a 30minute baseline period, pa…
Challenges in Designing Human-Animal Interaction Research
This article addresses challenges in designing Human-Animal Interaction (HAI) research. A summary of previous reviews of HAI research is presented, followed by a discussion of areas that present particular challenges to research in this field, specifically design issues, control of extraneous variables, sample selection, intervention development, and outcome measurement. Suggestions for addressing these areas also are presented
The Effect of an Animal-Assisted Intervention on Anxiety and Pain in Hospitalized Children
Forty children between the ages of 8 and 18 years, who were admitted to a hospital pediatric unit, were randomly assigned to an animal-assisted intervention (AAI) or an active control condition (working on an age-appropriate jigsaw puzzle). Ratings of pain and anxiety were taken both pre- and post-condition. The attachment Questionnaire and Family Life Space Diagram (FLSD) also were administered, and information on medications taken was recorded.…
Benefits of Interacting with Companion Animals
Effect of aquariums on electroconvulsive therapy patients
This study investigates the effect of an aquarium on pre-treatment anxiety, fear. frustration, and depression in electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) patients. Forty-two patients consecutively referred for ECT were rotated between rooms with and without aquariums. Self report measures of depression, anxiety, fear, and frustration were obtained, along with heart rate and blood pressure measurements. Preliminary mixed-model, repeated measures analysis o…
The Effect of a Canine-assisted Activity on College Student Perceptions of Family Supports and Current Stressors
Using data from a previously published study on effects of a canine-assisted activity (CAA) on college student stress the week before final examinations, we examined whether participation in this activity had effects on perceptions of 1) family supports (i.e., emotional distance to family members and pets) and 2) current stressors. A total of 74 students completed the Family Life Space Diagram (FLSD), which uses an individual's structured drawing…
Constraints in Assessing the Impact of Animals in Education
The primary purpose of this article is to delineate constraints researchers may encounter in assessing the impact of animals in education, even when using rigorous research designs. A case study is used as a framework for this discussion and consists of a project conducted in a pre-school setting, using a cross-over design to control for most threats to internal and external validity. The project is presented first, with a brief description of th…
Constraints in Assessing the Impact of Animals in Education
The primary purpose of this article is to delineate constraints researchers may encounter in assessing the impact of animals in education, even when using rigorous research designs. A case study is used as a framework for this discussion and consists of a project conducted in a pre-school setting, using a cross-over design to control for most threats to internal and external validity. The project is presented first, with a brief description of th…
Challenges in Designing Human-Animal Interaction Research
This article addresses challenges in designing Human-Animal Interaction (HAI) research. A summary of previous reviews of HAI research is presented, followed by a discussion of areas that present particular challenges to research in this field, specifically design issues, control of extraneous variables, sample selection, intervention development, and outcome measurement. Suggestions for addressing these areas also are presented
Benefits of Interacting with Companion Animals
Effect of aquariums on electroconvulsive therapy patients
This study investigates the effect of an aquarium on pre-treatment anxiety, fear. frustration, and depression in electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) patients. Forty-two patients consecutively referred for ECT were rotated between rooms with and without aquariums. Self report measures of depression, anxiety, fear, and frustration were obtained, along with heart rate and blood pressure measurements. Preliminary mixed-model, repeated measures analysis o…
Measuring Stress and Immune Response in Healthcare Professionals following Interaction with a Therapy Dog
This study investigated the optimal time for measuring stress and immune function in 20 healthcare professionals (19 women and 1 man) following interaction with a therapy dog. A nonclinical sample of healthcare professionals was assigned to 20 min. of quiet rest, and 5 and 20 min. with a therapy dog. Serum cortisol, epinephrine, and norepinephrine were collected at baseline, 5, 15, 30, 45, and 60 min. postcondition. Salivary cortisol, salivary Ig…
Exploratory Study of Stress-Buffering Response Patterns from Interaction with a Therapy Dog
This exploratory study builds on existing research on the physiological stress response to human–animal interactions in a non-clinical sample of adult dog-owners interacting with their own or an unfamiliar therapy dog under similar conditions. Participants were therapy-dog owners (TDO group; n = 5) interacting with their own dogs and dog owners interacting with an unfamiliar therapy dog (AAA group; n = 5). Following a 30minute baseline period, pa…
The Effect of an Animal-Assisted Intervention on Anxiety and Pain in Hospitalized Children
Forty children between the ages of 8 and 18 years, who were admitted to a hospital pediatric unit, were randomly assigned to an animal-assisted intervention (AAI) or an active control condition (working on an age-appropriate jigsaw puzzle). Ratings of pain and anxiety were taken both pre- and post-condition. The attachment Questionnaire and Family Life Space Diagram (FLSD) also were administered, and information on medications taken was recorded.…
A Randomized Cross-over Exploratory Study of the Effect of Visiting Therapy Dogs on College Student Stress Before Final Exams
This exploratory study investigated the effect of visiting therapy dogs on college-student perceived and physiological stress the week prior to final exams. Students (n = 78) were randomly assigned to order of a therapydog intervention and attention-control condition, each 15 minutes long. Students completed the Perceived Stress Scale (PSS), a stress visual analog scale (SVAS), and provided saliva for measuring nerve growth factor (sNGF) and alph…
The Effect of a Canine-assisted Activity on College Student Perceptions of Family Supports and Current Stressors
Using data from a previously published study on effects of a canine-assisted activity (CAA) on college student stress the week before final examinations, we examined whether participation in this activity had effects on perceptions of 1) family supports (i.e., emotional distance to family members and pets) and 2) current stressors. A total of 74 students completed the Family Life Space Diagram (FLSD), which uses an individual's structured drawing…
The relationship between pet ownership, social support, and internalizing symptoms in students from the first to fourth year of college
Internalizing symptoms are prevalent in students as they enter and complete college. Considering research suggesting mental health benefits of pet ownership, this study explores the relationship between pet ownership, social support (SS), and internalizing symptoms (IS) in a cohort of students across their 4-year college experience. With no differences at college entry, students growing up with pets had greater IS through the fourth year, and gre…
A pilot randomized controlled trial to examine the impact of a therapy dog intervention on loneliness in adult patients hospitalized in a psychiatric unit
clinicaltrials.gov identifier, NCT05089201
Human-Animal Interaction Studies (11 works) · Medicine (10 works) · Psychology (10 works) · Clinical Psychology (6 works) · Psychiatry (5 works) · Veterinary Practice and Education Studies (5 works) · Internal Medicine (4 works) · Animal welfare (3 works) · Animal-assisted therapy (3 works) · Anxiety (3 works)