What is Beneficial in Our Relationships with Pets? Exploring the Psychological Factors Involved in Human–Pet Relations and Their Associations with Human Wellbeing

Amiot, Catherine E.; Bastian, Brock

doi:10.1080/08927936.2023.2210437

Cited by 3 publications

(2 citation statements)

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“…More than 50% of homes worldwide have companion animals [7], and many of these companion animal owners report that their companion animal contributes significant social support [8], providing a source of help when their mental health is poor or during emotional distress [9][10][11]. Although considerable research has examined the impact of companion animals on mental health and well-being, the results have been variable and inconclusive [12][13][14].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

The Link between the Nature of the Human–Companion Animal Relationship and Well-Being Outcomes in Companion Animal Owners

Ellis,

Stanton,

Hawkins

et al. 2024

Animals

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Research into the impact of companion animals on well-being has been both extensive and inconclusive, with studies finding both positive and negative relationships. The present research explored three previously unexamined relationship science concepts that may help clarify whether companion animals provide well-being benefits: self-expansion (the process of adding positive content to the self through incorporating new resources and perspectives into one’s identity or engaging in novel, exciting activities), perceived pet responsiveness, and perceived pet insensitivity; as well as attachment. We focused on dog and cat owners’ depression, anxiety, positive and negative affect, and loneliness through an online survey with a large sample population (N = 1359). We found that perceived pet insensitivity is a significant positive predictor of depression, anxiety, negative affect, and loneliness; that attachment is a significant positive predictor of depression, anxiety, and loneliness, and a significant negative predictor of positive affect; and that self-expansion is a significant positive predictor of positive affect, and a significant negative predictor of loneliness. Loneliness emerged as a mediator in the relationship between perceived pet insensitivity, attachment, self-expansion, and all mental well-being outcome variables. These findings indicate that perceived pet insensitivity, attachment, and self-expansion may play an important yet neglected role in well-being outcomes.

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Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

The Link between the Nature of the Human–Companion Animal Relationship and Well-Being Outcomes in Companion Animal Owners

Ellis,

Stanton,

Hawkins

et al. 2024

Animals

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“…We considered models adjusted for (1) age 1 , 2 , 3 , 4 , 50 , 51 , 52 and (2) age, BMI, 53 , 54 , 55 , 56 marital status, 57 , 58 , 59 , 60 number of stressful events during past 6 months, presence of life-threatening events, history of physical and/or sexual childhood abuse, 61 , 62 , 63 , 64 alcohol consumption, 65 , 66 physical activity, 67 , 68 , 69 , 70 BSSNI, 53 , 59 , 71 , 72 and FMI. 73 , 74 , 75 , 76 , 77 , 78 We performed analogous analyses for the 4 defined dichotomous outcomes using logistic regression models. In addition, we evaluated whether results differed when restricting to women with childhood abuse experience, those who were married (about 75% of the study sample) and when stratifying by pet type (dog, cat).…”

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Pet Attachment and Anxiety and Depression in Middle-Aged and Older Women

Żebrowska,

Strohmaier,

Huttenhower

et al. 2024

JAMA Netw Open

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ImportanceUnderstanding how attachment to pets can alleviate depression and anxiety offers valuable insights for developing preventive and therapeutic strategies, particularly for those with insecure attachment styles from childhood trauma.ObjectiveTo determine if a close bond with a pet is associated with reduced depression and anxiety, especially among women who experienced childhood abuse.Design, Setting, and ParticipantsThis cross-sectional study involved women who voluntarily enrolled in the Mind Body Study (MBS), a substudy of the Nurses’ Health Study II (NHS2) focusing on psychosocial factors. Women reporting childhood abuse were oversampled to capture their psychosocial distress in adulthood. MBS participants were invited to complete comprehensive online questionnaires, which were administered twice (March 2013 and February 2014).ExposurePet attachment measured by Lexington Attachment to Pets Scale (LAPS).Main Outcomes and MeasuresLevels of depression and anxiety (10-item Centre for Epidemiologic Studies Depression Scale [CESD-10]; Kessler Psychological Distress Scale [K6]; 7-item Generalized Anxiety Disorder scale [GAD-7]; Crown Crisp Experiential Index phobic anxiety subscale [CCI]), considered individually and combined into an overall z-score measure of anxiety and depression symptoms.ResultsA total of 214 women (mean [SD] age, 60.8 [3.9] years) were included; 156 women (72.6%) reported a history of childhood abuse. Of 688 invited MBS participants in 2013, 293 (42.6%) expressed interest; there were 228 completed questionnaires (response rate, 77.8%) in 2013 and 208 questionnaires (response rate, 71.0%) in 2014. LAPS scores were provided by 140 participants (65.4%), 78 (55.7%) for dogs and 46 (32.9%) for cats. Overall higher pet attachment on the LAPS score was significantly associated with lower GAD-7 scores (β = −0.17; 95% CI, −0.29 to −0.06), but there was no association for phobic anxiety or depression. There were no statistically significant associations between cat attachment and depression or anxiety. Higher dog attachment was associated with significantly lower scores in depression (CESD-10: β, −0.47; 95% CI, −0.68 to −0.26; K6: β = −0.42; 95% CI, −0.54 to −0.31), generalized anxiety (GAD-7: β = −0.47; 95% CI, −0.65 to −0.3), and the overall measure of anxiety and depression (z score: β = −0.12; 95% CI, −0.17 to −0.08), but there was no association between dog attachment and phobic anxiety (CCI: β = −0.08; 95% CI, −0.24 to 0.09). All effect sizes for associations were higher when analyses were restricted to women with a history of childhood abuse.Conclusions and relevanceIn this explorative cross-sectional study, strong attachment to pets, especially dogs, was associated with lower anxiety and depression symptoms. The favorable association was particularly apparent in women with a history of childhood abuse.

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“She is Like a Sister to Me”: Children’s Lived Experience With Their Dog

Kokkinakis,

Bibou

2024

Anthrozoös

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What is Beneficial in Our Relationships with Pets? Exploring the Psychological Factors Involved in Human–Pet Relations and Their Associations with Human Wellbeing

Cited by 3 publications

References 88 publications

The Link between the Nature of the Human–Companion Animal Relationship and Well-Being Outcomes in Companion Animal Owners

The Link between the Nature of the Human–Companion Animal Relationship and Well-Being Outcomes in Companion Animal Owners

Pet Attachment and Anxiety and Depression in Middle-Aged and Older Women

“She is Like a Sister to Me”: Children’s Lived Experience With Their Dog

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