Date

5-20-2026

Department

School of Behavioral Sciences

Degree

Doctor of Philosophy in Psychology (PhD)

Chair

Brooke Snyder

Keywords

human-animal interactions, rural mental health, farm animals, animal-assisted therapy, biophilia hypothesis, farm therapy

Disciplines

Animal Sciences | Psychology

Abstract

This study examined the relationship between naturally occurring farm animal interactions and overall well-being among rural adults living in the central Appalachian region, specifically western Maryland, south-central Pennsylvania, and the eastern panhandle of West Virginia. A cross-sectional, correlational design was used to compare adults with at least five hours of naturally occurring farm animal contact per week to those with less than one hour of contact per week. Overall well-being was measured with the PERMA-Profiler, and heart rate variability (HRV) was measured using wearable devices as a physiological indicator of autonomic health. Grounded in polyvagal theory, the biophilia hypothesis, and social support theory, this study encompassed a broad theoretical framework and included the biblical principles of compassion and stewardship. Results from a one-way analysis of covariance (ANCOVA) controlled for age, gender, BMI, and device type found that farm animal contact was significantly associated with higher overall well-being F(1, 58) = 6.897, p = .011, partial η² = .106. Positive emotion and engagement were PERMA subscales that showed statistically significant group differences. The farm animal contact group demonstrated higher mean HRV but the difference did not reach statistical significance after adjusting for covariates. These findings provide a layer of evidence to the emerging field of farm animal-assisted intervention research and show naturally occurring farm animal contact as a promising, accessible, and culturally appropriate path to well-being in rural areas where mental health services remain scarce.

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