The Preadolescent/Pet Bond and Psychosocial Development

Davis, Janet Haggerty; Juhasz, Anne McCreary

doi:10.4324/9781315784656-7

Cited by 4 publications

(5 citation statements)

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“…Previous research has recognized the developmental and health benefits of pets in families (Friedmann and Thomas 1985;Rochberg-Halton 1985). Pets can have a sociability function in families, meaning that they can facilitate human-to-human social interaction, and improve the socialization of children and adolescents (Covert et al 1985;Davis and Juhasz 1985;Robin and Bensel 1985;Serpell 1999). Studies show that pets can be a source of emotional and social support to their owners, and that a strong sense of community can form through animal companions (Headey 1999;Meehan et al 2017;Bulsara et al 2007).…”

Section: Previous Researchmentioning

confidence: 99%

“Why Would You Want a Baby When You Could Have a Dog?” Voluntarily Childless Women’s “Peternal” Feelings, Longing and Ambivalence

Peterson

Engwall

2019

Social Sciences

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This article explores voluntarily childless women’s experiences and understandings of human-animal interactions and their attitudes towards companion animals. It draws on interviews with 15 Swedish women who expressed a lack of “maternal” feelings and therefore had remained voluntarily childless, or childfree (used here as two interchangeable concepts). Instead, the women described how they perceived the attachment bonds to companion animals that they had developed as similar to, or even superior to, the attachments bonds between parents and their children. The article thus introduces the expressions “peternal”, and “peternal feelings”, to denote these women’s attachment bonds to companion animals (primarily cats and dogs). The results, however, also illustrate that few of the women actually took on the role as “pet parent”. Although they longed to develop attachment bonds with companion animals, they were conflicted and experienced ambivalence, leading to decisions to develop avoidance strategies, resembling those involved in the childfree decision. Hence, many of them described themselves as both childfree and “petfree”.

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Section: Previous Researchmentioning

confidence: 99%

“Why Would You Want a Baby When You Could Have a Dog?” Voluntarily Childless Women’s “Peternal” Feelings, Longing and Ambivalence

Peterson

Engwall

2019

Social Sciences

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Section: Previous Researchmentioning

confidence: 99%

We Are Best Friends: Animals in Society

Irvine¹

2019

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“…The incidence of ownership of pets appears to peak for families with preadolescent children (Davis & Juhasz, 1995), underscoring the importance of examining the role of pets during this developmental period. In addition, Davis and Juhasz (1985) identify pets as developmental resources for children in preadolescence. Pets are described by children in ways that suggest they can provide many of the benefits of friendship such as companionship, affection, social interaction, emotional support, and esteem enhancement (e.g., Triebenbacher, 1998; McNicholas & Collis, 2000; Morrow, 1998).…”

Section: Children’s Close Relationships In Preadolescence: the Role Omentioning

confidence: 99%

Preadolescents’ relationships with pet dogs: Relationship continuity and associations with adjustment

Kerns

Koehn

Dulmen

et al. 2016

Applied Developmental Science

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Research on human-animal interaction in children has been studied in isolation rather than integrated with core theories of children’s relationships. This study is one of the first to examine how children’s relationships with pet dogs are related to their human relationships (parent-child attachments, friendships) and to child adjustment, and to include observational assessment of children’s interactions with their pet dog. Children (9 to 11 years old, n = 99) completed questionnaires regarding relationships with pet dogs, parents, and friends. Half the children were observed interacting with their pet dog. Children and teachers reported children’s adjustment. Children who felt closer to their dogs were more securely attached to mothers and fathers, and reported more positive qualities and less conflict with friends. Children with more secure attachments to mothers, and greater companionship with dogs, interacted more with their dogs. Parental attachment and friendship quality, but not the pet dog relationship, were related to child adjustment.

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The Preadolescent/Pet Bond and Psychosocial Development

Cited by 4 publications

References 0 publications

“Why Would You Want a Baby When You Could Have a Dog?” Voluntarily Childless Women’s “Peternal” Feelings, Longing and Ambivalence

“Why Would You Want a Baby When You Could Have a Dog?” Voluntarily Childless Women’s “Peternal” Feelings, Longing and Ambivalence

We Are Best Friends: Animals in Society

Preadolescents’ relationships with pet dogs: Relationship continuity and associations with adjustment

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