Assessment of university policies for service animals and emotional support animals.

Autor: Lanning BA; Department of Public Health, Baylor University, Waco, Texas, USA., Patterson MS; Department of Health & Kinesiology, Texas A&M University, College Station, Texas, USA., Henry S; Department of Public Health, Baylor University, Waco, Texas, USA., Graves-Boswell CT; Department of Health & Kinesiology, Texas A&M University, College Station, Texas, USA., Summerall B; Department of Public Health, Baylor University, Waco, Texas, USA., Millan C; Department of Public Health, Baylor University, Waco, Texas, USA.
Jazyk: angličtina
Zdroj: Journal of American college health : J of ACH [J Am Coll Health] 2024 Feb-Mar; Vol. 72 (2), pp. 383-389. Date of Electronic Publication: 2022 Feb 14.
DOI: 10.1080/07448481.2022.2035735
Abstrakt: Objective: Assess administrative responsibilities and experiential effects of emotional support animal (ESA) and service animal (SA) policies on college campuses.
Participants: Students at two four-year universities participated in an emotional support animals and service animals survey. Selected students and professional personnel participated in interviews and focus groups.
Methods: This mixed-methods study included quantitative survey data from 1,363 students, qualitative individual interviews (3) and a focus group (1) regarding emotional support animal (ESA) and service animal (SA).
Results: Seventy-one students reported having ESAs, 18 had SAs. Barriers for ESAs on campus included no ESAs outside of dorms, while SA-owners reported fewer barriers. University administrators followed federal guidelines for SAs but lacked clear guidelines for ESAs. Qualitative themes included lack of awareness, education, support for SA, and ESA accommodations.
Conclusions: ESA and SA accommodations continue to rise, on university campuses. Clear guidelines and implementation processes are imperative for future improvements.
Databáze: MEDLINE