Scientists have proved that petting cats and dogs for just ten minutes is an effective way to reduce stress levels.
科学家已证实，吸猫撸狗是一种减轻压力的有用体例，并且只需十分钟就可以生效。
Scientists showed that the general well-being of students improves quickly, with even those who are highly stressed showing 'significant' reduction in cortisol levels - a chemical produced by our bodies in times of stress.
科学家指出，在吸猫撸狗后，学生们的整体幸福感都有了明显改良，就连压力很年夜的人皮质醇程度也“明显”降落。皮质醇是人体在感触感染到压力时排泄出的化学物资。
Many universities have adopted 'Pet Your Stress Away' programs where students can interact with cats or dogs and it appears to be paying dividends now.
很多年夜学都已奉行了“吸走你的压力”打算，让学生们可以和猫狗互动，此刻看来已见到了回报。
The research, conducted by Washington State University, shows that pets improve students' moods and their presence has stress-relieving physiological benefits.
华盛顿州立年夜学展开的这项研究表白，宠物能改良学生的情感，给学生减轻压力，有益心理健康。
'Just 10 minutes can have a significant impact,' said Patricia Pendry, an associate professor in WSU's Department of Human Development.
华盛顿州立年夜学人类成长系的副传授帕特丽夏·彭德利说：“只需10分钟就可以有明显影响。”
'Students in our study that interacted with cats and dogs had a significant reduction in cortisol, a major stress hormone.'
“在我们的研究中，与猫狗互动的学生皮质醇程度明显降落，皮质醇是首要的压力激素。”
This is the first study that has demonstrated reductions in students' cortisol levels during a real-life intervention.
这是首个在实际干涉干与进程中发现学生皮质醇程度降落的研究。
The team chose 249 college students and put them into four random groups and compared the effects of different exposures to animals.
研究团队选择了249名高校学生，将他们随机分为四组，让各组用分歧体例接震动物，并将结果尴尬刁难比。
The first group were provided 10 minutes of hands-on interaction with dogs and cats.
第一组有10分钟时候与猫狗真实互动。
The second group waited in line while observing others petting the animals.
第二组在一旁列队等待，不雅察其他人吸猫撸狗。
The third group watched a slideshow of the same animals, while the fourth group was 'waitlisted.'
第三组不雅看这些动物的幻灯片，第四组则被列进了等待者名单。
Salivary cortisol samples were collected from each participant starting from the moment they woke up in the morning.
介入者早上一睡醒，研究职员就起头从他们那边搜集唾液皮质醇样本。
There were significantly less cortisol in the saliva of students who had direct interaction with the pets.
与宠物产生直接互动的学生唾液中的皮质醇程度较着削减。
'We already knew that students enjoy interacting with animals, and that it helps them experience more positive emotions,' Dr Pendry said.
彭德利博士说：“我们已知道，学生们喜好和动物互动，这有助于他们体验更积极的感情。”
'What we wanted to learn was whether this exposure would help students reduce their stress in a less subjective way.
“我们想知道这类接触是不是能以一种比力客不雅的体例帮学生减轻压力。”
'And it did, which is exciting because the reduction of stress hormones may, over time, have significant benefits for physical and mental health.'
“成果如我们所愿，这很让人兴奋，由于下降压力激素久远来看会给身体和心理健康带来庞大的益处。”
The findings were published in the journal?American Educational Research Association.
该研究成果颁发在《美国教育研究协会》期刊上。