Pet ownership, dog types and attachment to pets in 9–10 year old children in Liverpool, UK

Abstract

BackgroundLittle is known about ethnic, cultural and socioeconomic differences in childhood ownership and attitudes to pets. The objective of this study was to describe the factors associated with living with different pet types, as well as factors that may influence the intensity of relationship or ‘attachment’ that children have to their pet. Data were collected using a survey of 1021 9–10 year old primary school children in a deprived area of the city of Liverpool, UK.ResultsDogs were the most common pet owned, most common ‘favourite’ pet, and species most attached to. Twenty-seven percent of dog-owning children (10% of all children surveyed) reported living with a ‘Bull Breed’ dog (which includes Pit Bulls and Staffordshire Bull Terriers), and the most popular dog breed owned was the Staffordshire Bull Terrier. Multivariable regression modelling identified a number of variables associated with ownership of different pets and the strength of attachment to the child’s favourite pet. Girls were more likely to own most pet types, but were no more or less attached to their favourite pet than boys. Children of white ethnicity were more likely to own dogs, rodents and ‘other’ pets but were no more or less attached to their pets than children of non-white ethnicity. Single and youngest children were no more or less likely to own pets than those with younger brothers and sisters, but they showed greater attachment to their pets. Children that owned dogs lived in more deprived areas than those without dogs, and deprivation increased with number of dogs owned. ‘Pit Bull or cross’ and ‘Bull Breed’ dogs were more likely to be found in more deprived areas than other dog types. Non-whites were also more likely to report owning a ‘Pit Bull or cross’ than Whites.ConclusionsGender, ethnicity and socioeconomic status were associated with pet ownership, and sibling status with level of attachment to the pet. These are important to consider when conducting research into the health benefits and risks of the common childhood phenomenon of growing up with pets.

The Short Attachment to Pets Scale (SAPS) for Children and Young People: Development, Psychometric Qualities and Demographic and Health Associations

“…This is in line with previous research on children/young people's attachment to pets conducted in the United States (Brown 2003) and in Kuwait (AlFayez et al 2003). However, our findings disagreed with a study conducted in the UK in which white children were not found to be more attached to pets than non-white children (Westgarth et al 2013). These differences between our results and Westgarth's (Westgarth et al 2013) study could be due to the difficulties of capturing cultural, historical and religious issues in a single variable in both studies and by the use of different attachment scales within the two studies.…”

“…However, our findings disagreed with a study conducted in the UK in which white children were not found to be more attached to pets than non-white children (Westgarth et al 2013). These differences between our results and Westgarth's (Westgarth et al 2013) study could be due to the difficulties of capturing cultural, historical and religious issues in a single variable in both studies and by the use of different attachment scales within the two studies. Furthermore, the mechanism underlying the relationship between ethnicity and children's attachment to their pets is presently unclear, one possible factor could be cultural differences and further research is needed to explore this.…”

“…However, other studies have not found significant differences between gender and attachment to pets (Ganster and Voith 1983;Stevens 1990). These contrasting results may mirror differences in the scales used or in the populations assessed to evaluate the attachment to pets (Stevens 1990;Westgarth et al 2013). However, according to Kellert and Berry (1987) we consider relevant to study how gender may influence attachment to pets in children.…”

“…There is a positive association between pet ownership in childhood and adulthood and greater attachment to pets (Crawford et al 2006;Vidovic et al 1999). Some studies report ethnic variation; for example higher attachment to pets in white children in comparison to black children (Brown 2003;Siegel 1995); others have not found any differences between white children and other ethnic groups (Westgarth et al 2013). To our knowledge, previous research has not reported any relationship between family wealth and rurality and attachment to pets in children.…”

“…Childhood experience of animal companions can differ between demographic, cultural and ethnic groups with different degrees of attachment to pets, and this may affect individual behaviour and future choices in relation to pet ownership (AlFayez et al 2003;Siegel 1995;Westgarth et al 2013). Consequently, experiences concerning pets in childhood may have long-lasting effects for people Kruger et al 2012;Serpell and Paul 2011).…”