The Effects of Pet Therapy on Anxiety, Depression, and Stress among Thai Adolescents

Abstract: In contemporary Thailand, adolescents face multiple stressors—from academic pressure and family expectations to social media and economic uncertainty—leading to elevated levels of anxiety, depression, and stress. Animal-Assisted Intervention (pet therapy) has been proposed as a complementary approach to emotional well-being. This cross-sectional study aimed to evaluate the impact of daily interaction with household pets on emotional health among 200 Thai adolescents aged 13–18 who regularly care for at least one animal. Data were collected via an online questionnaire (24 items across six domains) and analyzed descriptively (n, %, and % scoring 4–5 on a 5-point Likert scale). Findings indicate that 75–85% of respondents reported “high” to “very high” reductions in anxiety, depression, and stress when with their pets. The most common therapeutic activities were play/chase games (85%) and petting/hugging (80%). Overall, 80% judged pet therapy to be “quite” or “very” effective. These results support integrating Animal-Assisted Activities into school and community mental-health programs and developing training for educators, parents, and clinicians in pet-therapy protocols. Keywords: pet, therapy, anxiety, depression, stress, Thai, adolescents. Title: The Effects of Pet Therapy on Anxiety, Depression, and Stress among Thai Adolescents Author: Supisara Kanjanabatr International Journal of Life Sciences Research ISSN 2348-313X (Print), ISSN 2348-3148 (online) Vol. 13, Issue 3, July 2025 - September 2025 Page No: 1-4 Research Publish Journals Website: www.researchpublish.com Published Date: 04-July-2025 DOI: https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.15805031 Paper Download Link (Source) https://www.researchpublish.com/papers/the-effects-of-pet-therapy-on-anxiety-depression-and-stress-among-thai-adolescents