Short-Term Cardiovascular Changes During the StressLess University Dog-Assisted Wellbeing Program: Evaluation of...

Background/Objectives: Dog-assisted wellbeing activities are increasingly used in higher education, but their short-term cardiovascular correlates and the usefulness of integrated physiological indices remain insufficiently examined. This study evaluated cardiovascular changes associated with participation in StressLess, a multicomponent university wellbeing program involving supervised interaction with trained dogs, and explored several integrated cardiovascular indices. Methods: A total of 147 students participated voluntarily, generating 379 attendances, of which 375 complete session-level pre-post records were retained. Systolic blood pressure (SBP), diastolic blood pressure (DBP), and heart rate (HR) were measured before and after standardized rest periods and 30-40 min of supervised interaction. The primary analysis was restricted to each participant's first attendance (N = 147) to ensure independence. Sensitivity analyses included all valid session records and participant-level averages. Results: At first attendance, mean SBP decreased from 117.56 to 112.88 mmHg, DBP from 74.05 to 70.95 mmHg, and HR from 82.11 to 75.09 beats/min (all p < 0.001; r = 0.41-0.59). The StressLess Cardiovascular Dynamics Index also decreased significantly (mean reduction = 0.408; p < 0.001; r = 0.66), and alternative formulations produced comparable results. Both sensitivity analyses reproduced the direction and statistical significance of the primary findings. Conclusions: Participation in the complete StressLess session was associated with short-term cardiovascular reductions. Because no control condition was included, the specific contribution of dog interaction cannot be separated from rest, social contact, expectancy, and temporary disengagement from academic activity. Integrated indices may provide useful exploratory summaries but require external validation before diagnostic or clinical use.