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Comparing the Stress-Reducing Effects of a Robotic Pet and a Weighted Toy

NCT06975007 · Status: NOT_YET_RECRUITING · Phase: NA · Type: INTERVENTIONAL · Enrollment: 51

Last updated 2025-05-16

No results posted yet for this study

Summary

The goal of this trial is to learn whether interacting with a robotic pet (Paro) or holding a weighted sensory toy can reduce stress in healthy adults after an acute stressful experience. The main questions it aims to answer are:

* Does interacting with Paro or holding a weighted toy lower self-reported stress and anxiety levels?
* Does interacting with Paro or holding a weighted toy lower physiological markers of stress, such as heart rate and blood pressure?

Researchers will compare interaction with Paro (robotic pet), interaction with a weighted sensory toy and a control group with no intervention to see which method is most effective in reducing stress.

Participants will:

1. Complete a stress induction task (Trier Social Stress Test);
2. Be randomly assigned to interact with Paro, hold a weighted toy, or sit quietly without intervention;
3. Have their heart rate and blood pressure measured;
4. Complete surveys about their stress, anxiety and mood before and after the intervention.

Conditions

  • Stress

Interventions

DEVICE

Paro Robotic Companion Seal

Paro is an interactive robotic companion designed to simulate the behaviour of a baby harp seal. It responds to touch, light, sound, posture and temperature, providing tactile and social interaction for stress relief.

DEVICE

Weighted Sensory Toy

A soft, weighted animal-shaped toy (dog) designed to provide deep pressure stimulation. Participants hold or interact with the toy for 15 minutes following a stress induction task to promote relaxation and stress reduction.

Sponsors & Collaborators

  • University of Auckland, New Zealand

    lead OTHER

Principal Investigators

  • Elizabeth Broadbent, Professor · Department of Psychological Medicine, The University of Auckland

Study Design

Allocation
RANDOMIZED
Purpose
TREATMENT
Masking
NONE
Model
PARALLEL

Eligibility

Min Age
18 Years
Sex
ALL
Healthy Volunteers
Yes

Timeline & Regulatory

Start
2025-05-31
Primary Completion
2025-10-31
Completion
2025-10-31

Countries

  • New Zealand

Study Locations

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Read the full study record

This page highlights key information. For complete eligibility criteria, study locations, investigator contacts, and the full protocol, visit the original record on ClinicalTrials.gov.

View NCT06975007 on ClinicalTrials.gov