Human-Animal Connections and Nursing Science: What Is the Relationship?

Abstract

Human-animal relationships have been documented for centuries. Animals are used for many purposes, such as enhancing human health, wellness, and companionship, to name a few. The human-animal relationship is different for every person and requires a holistic perspective. Nurses are interested in relationships that are caring, natural, and therapeutic. Research supports the profound and multifaceted health benefits of the human-animal bond. The purpose of this paper is to discuss the relationship between the human-animal connection and nursing science.

Tourists' perceptions of non‐human species in zoos: An animal rights perspective

“…Informants made reference to their animal‐human interaction being a source or the outcome of “joy”, “happiness”, “love” (Alfonso, 42, Mimi, 30), “enthusiasm” (Lara, 37), “admiration” (Ivan, 39) and “respect” (Sarah, 31). This outcome reinforces the claim that human‐animal connection is an important contributor to factors such as anxiety reduction, peoples' psychological health and general life satisfaction (Bert et al, 2016; Hill et al, 2020; Krause‐Parello, 2018). Indeed, zoos provide opportunities for visitors to explore the animal world with informants noting that zoos allow visitors to “spend their time and at the same time learn” (Sav, 35) and see wild and threatened species (Buckley et al, 2020).…”

“…Indeed, people value the outcome of their interaction with animals. It is well acknowledged that human‐animal connection is an important factor in life satisfaction and health (Krause‐Parello, 2018) with animal‐intervention programs and animal companionship providing benefits towards people (Bert et al, 2016; Hill et al, 2020; McConnell et al, 2016). Even so, this human‐animal connection being often imposed through animal captivity contradicts the very notion of animal rights position which states that animals should not be regarded as property, hence any use of animals by humans is unacceptable.…”

Equine‐assisted therapies using horses as healers: A concept analysis

“…Nursing clinicians focus on interventions that are caring, natural and therapeutic. Equine‐assisted therapy has been credited with all these aspects in the human–equine relationship (Krause‐Parello, ). Research informs nursing practice (Yates, ), and with the positive results found in the literature, the practice of using horses to heal physical, emotional and psychological challenges is just beginning.…”

“…This intervention has reached the highest level of research, meta‐analysis (Stergiou et al, ; Trzmiel, Purandare, Michalak, Zasadzka, & Pawlaczyk, ), and nurse clinicians will begin to choose this as an intervention. Nurse presence, human–animal bond research, nursing intervention research for veterans, spinal cord injury treatment and nurses treating abuse survivors are all reporting positive results in the literature (Johnson et al, ; Krause‐Parello, ; Walsh & Blakeney, ). Antecedents, consequences and empirical referents will guide future nurse clinicians in the methodologies necessary to implement EAT as an intervention.…”

“…This demonstrates that people are willing to pay for alternative approaches over traditional medical approaches in order to improve their health. Nurses are currently researching EAT as a viable intervention (Johnson et al, ; Krause‐Parello, ; Walsh & Blakeney, ; White‐Lewis et al, ). Improved outcomes from medical research include re‐establishing neuropathways for children with cerebral palsy (Tseng, Chen, & Tam, ), improving balance for older adults (Aranda‐Garcia et al, ) and improving psychological health for veterans (Johnson et al, ) among many other improved outcomes.…”