Date of Award

2020

Document Type

Thesis

Degree Name

Bachelors

Department

Social Sciences

First Advisor

Cook, Peter

Area of Concentration

Biopsychology

Abstract

Emotional support animals (ESAs) are an increasingly popular, medically validated treatment option for several psychiatric disorders. This includes depression and anxiety, which disproportionately affect college students. When prescribed by a medical doctor or psychiatrist, ESAs are a legally protected right and may accompany their person on airplanes and in all types of housing, even housing that is not considered “pet friendly.” ESAs as a disability right has been a contentious and challenging issue in the media; some people claim that ESAs cause more problems than they improve. Using four methods (survey, interview, physiological measures, and a pre-and post ESA cohort), I have attempted to answer the question: are ESAs an effective treatment method for students struggling with symptoms of anxiety and depression? I found very strong support that ESAs can affectively alleviate the severity of depression symptoms; however, their effectiveness alleviating symptoms of anxiety is not as clear cut. My interviews revealed that, although ESAs do provide impactful benefits, they also add new stressors in a residential college environment. I include recommendations for the college which I believe will help provide a more supportive, accessible environment for students, and which have the power to increase the effectiveness of ESAs on campus.

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