Well-Being over the Life Course: Incorporating Human-Animal Interaction

Bures, Regina M.

doi:10.1007/978-3-030-64085-9_1

Cited by 2 publications

(12 citation statements)

References 32 publications

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“…In support of this, several studies have shown that the influence of animal companions and their interaction with persons influence their behaviors, attitudes, and health-related outcomes (e.g., Fine, 2015). For instance, HAIs have been associated with lower blood pressure, lower heart rate, and efficient strategies to cope with stressful situations (Allen et al, 2001, Friedman et al, 2013; it has also been associated with higher levels of happiness, well-being, reduced anxiety, depression, and distress (e.g., Bures, 2021;Janssens et al, 2020;Wells, 2019). Despite these benefits, HAIs have been disregarded in other contexts, such as the working one.…”

Section: The Human-animal Interactionsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Should I pet or should I work? Human-animal interactions and (tele)work engagement: an exploration of the underlying within-level mechanisms

Silva

2022

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PurposeHuman–animal interactions (HAIs) have been found to have an extensive and significant influence on individuals' well-being and health-related outcomes. However, there are few studies that examine this influence on work-related contexts, such as teleworking. In this study, the author relied on the affective events theory to examine the effect of daily HAI on employees’ daily work engagement and the underlying mechanisms (daily affect ratio and state mindfulness), by resorting to a daily diary study.Design/methodology/approachTo test the hypotheses, the author collected daily data during five consecutive working days with pet owners (N = 400 × 5 = 2,000).FindingsMultilevel results showed that interacting with pets during the working day was positively associated with daily work engagement, but this positive relationship was stronger for individuals with lower levels of mindfulness. Further analyses showed that the daily affect ratio mediated the moderating effect of mindfulness on the relationship between daily interactions with pets and daily work engagement.Practical implicationsThese findings provide strong support for the proposed mediated moderation model; indeed, positive affect and mindfulness help to explain the positive effect of HAIs on work engagement. Hence, managers may consider the adoption of teleworking, even in a hybrid format for those workers who own pets, because interacting with pets may be a strategy to make them feel more positive and, in turn, more enthusiastic, dedicated and absorbed in their work.Originality/valueThis study is one of the first studies to demonstrate the importance of adopting pet-friendly practices, such as allowing pet owners to telework, as a way to promote daily work engagement.

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Section: The Human-animal Interactionsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Should I pet or should I work? Human-animal interactions and (tele)work engagement: an exploration of the underlying within-level mechanisms

Silva

2022

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“…Recently, Chan et al [15] developed the recovery step model. Accordingly, microbreaks are important for individuals to recover resources spent while working.…”

Section: Human-animal Interactions As a Micro-break During Workmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Micro-breaks have been explored in the recovery literature and have been demonstrated as crucial moments for the individual's rest and recovery from daily job demands and hassles [14,15]. Indeed, individuals during their working day often experience several challenges or unexpected events that make them spend resources.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…For instance, Chan et al [15] recently developed a model of recovery-the recovery step model-outlining the role of micro-breaks in diverse recovery processes, among them being self-regulatory resources [16]. Self-regulatory resources are cognitive resources that are relevant for the working day because they are related to the individual's ability to self-control their behaviors, emotions, and impulses (e.g., focus attention on the tasks even when physically or emotionally exhausted or suppress some emotion that is not supposed to be expressed) [16,18,19].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Relying on the recovery step model, and the furr-recovery method-the recovery process through interacting with furry co-workers, that is, pets [15]-we argued that HAIs during the day are micro-breaks that can help individuals recover their regulatory resources by making them experience relaxation and calmness, and control (i.e., contributing to a self-perceived sense of control what one wants and need to do) and distracting them from work (i.e., psychological distancing from work) [5]. Additionally, based on the conservation of resources theory [21,22], we expect that these regulatory resources' recovery will make individuals feel better and relaxed, thereby contributing to their improved mental health.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Unleashing the Furr-Recovery Method: Interacting with Pets in Teleworking Replenishes the Self’s Regulatory Resources: Evidence from a Daily-Diary Study

Silva

2022

IJERPH

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This study is based on the conservation of resources theory and the recovery step model in order to further explore the furr-recovery method—a mechanism through which workers break their routine by taking micro-moments to interact with their “furry co-workers,” thus relieving their fatigue and tension or other negative affective states. Based on this, we argue that this method not only serves the purpose of restoring self-regulatory resources but also ameliorates mental health. Accordingly, this study aims to analyze how daily human–animal interactions during teleworking positively influence teleworkers’ mental health, via recovering their self-regulatory resources, at the within-person level. Full-time teleworkers completed multiple online surveys for 5 consecutive workdays (N = 211 × 5 = 1055 daily observations). Multilevel path analysis results showed that on days on which employees had more micro-moments to interact with their “furry co-workers” during the day, they experienced a higher self-regulatory capacity and felt better while working. In sum, the findings give support for the theoretical resource perspective of interacting with pets as an effective energy management strategy while at work. This research extends the theoretical understanding of regulatory resources as a cognitive mechanism that links HAIs to employee mental health. Moreover, the findings outlined here offer practical implications by highlighting the furr-recovery method, a method that teleworkers who own pets may use as a strategy during the working day to restore resources needed to be healthier.

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Well-Being over the Life Course: Incorporating Human-Animal Interaction

Cited by 2 publications

References 32 publications

Should I pet or should I work? Human-animal interactions and (tele)work engagement: an exploration of the underlying within-level mechanisms

Should I pet or should I work? Human-animal interactions and (tele)work engagement: an exploration of the underlying within-level mechanisms

Unleashing the Furr-Recovery Method: Interacting with Pets in Teleworking Replenishes the Self’s Regulatory Resources: Evidence from a Daily-Diary Study

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