Dr. Binfet: A Guaranteed Way to Get Students to Smile on Campus

Are you interested in learning more about the science behind smiling and how therapy dogs impact post-secondary students’ smiles?

In his latest article, A Guaranteed Way to Get Students to Smile on Campus, Dr. Binfet outlines the difference between “felt”, or genuine smiles, from “fake” smiles and briefly describes the university student experience with a therapy dog program called B.A.R.K. (Building Academic Retention through K9s).

“Might the extent to which we see students experiencing “felt” smiles be a reflection of student well-being and overall campus health?”

Research suggests that false smiles may contribute to emotional exhaustion, and we know that university students are more prone to elevated stress and negative affect. This is an important read for those working in education looking to promote student well-being on campus.

“As college administrators and student support programming personnel seek ways to bolster student mental health and well-being, creating opportunities for students to interact with trained therapy dogs and their handlers is one low-cost and low-barrier way to generate smiles in students.” – Dr. Binfet. 

Have you ever seen a room full of smiles? No, check out our drop-in sessions on Friday afternoons, starting January 31st!

Check out Dr. Binfet’s latest Psychology Today article to learn more about canine-assisted interventions, the B.A.R.K. program, and the benefits of smiling!

You can also keep up with the B.A.R.K. program on Instagram @barkubc!

Photos by Freya Green.