Horse-assisted Intervention, Heart Rate Variability & Stress

In this study, the effects of an animal-assisted intervention on people with increased stress levels are investigated. The data collected will be compared with those of participants with high stress levels but without animal-assisted intervention (participants only observe nature) and with a control group consisting of people without stress exposure.The study will be performed in the following setting: Questionnaire examination on chronic stress, questionnaire on current well-being and heart rate variability (HRV) measurement before the horse-assisted intervention, one HRV measurement and one questionnaire examination (POMS) on current well-being after the horse-assisted intervention, one questionnaire (POMS) on current well-being 5 days after the horse-assisted intervention.

Inclusion Criteria:Male, female and diverseAge between 18-75 yearsExclusion criteria:Animal hair allergies (especially horse hair allergies, fear of horses)Acute severe psychiatric conditions (e.g. psychosis)Persons, unable to give signed informed consent,All persons, who have not signed the informed consent form.