◉ PHOTOS: Farm fun reduces student stress at Mount Royal University

From rabbits and goats to piglets, Mount Royal University students lined up to get a few minutes with farm animals on Wednesday afternoon.

The university’s Healthy Campus Team brought the farm animals to campus to reduce stress.m

The appeal goes beyond cuteness. A 2019 study found that just ten minutes of hands-on interaction with animals significantly reduced students’ cortisol, a key stress hormone. 

The researchers concluded that a short, college-based animal visitation program can provide momentary stress relief.

As the photos below show, the brief pause to pet a farm animal offered dozens of MRU students a pleasant distraction.