Attachment Style Is Related to Quality of Life for Assistance Dog Owners

Abstract

Attachment styles have been shown to affect quality of life. Growing interest in the value of companion animals highlights that owning a dog can also affect quality of life, yet little research has explored the role of the attachment bond in affecting the relationship between dog ownership and quality of life. Given that the impact of dog ownership on quality of life may be greater for assistance dog owners than pet dog owners, we explored how anxious attachment and avoidance attachment styles to an assistance dog affected owner quality of life (n = 73). Regression analysis revealed that higher anxious attachment to the dog predicted enhanced quality of life. It is suggested that the unique, interdependent relationship between an individual and their assistance dog may mean that an anxious attachment style is not necessarily detrimental. Feelings that indicate attachment insecurity in other relationships may reflect more positive aspects of the assistance dog owner relationship, such as the level of support that the dog provides its owner.

The impact of service and hearing dogs on health-related quality of life and activity level: a Swedish longitudinal intervention study

“…This may have influenced the HRQoL improvement. According to White et al, attachment style is related to quality of life for assistance dog owners [ 26 ]. It is possible that this has had an impact on our results as well, but this has not been studied.…”

A cultural selection analysis of human-dog interactions – A primer

“…Since the late 1990s, when the landmark study of attachment behavior in dogs was published (Topál et al, 1998), several canine-related studies have replicated and extended the application of attachment theory, in general, and the Strange Situation test, in particular (e.g., Mariti et al, 2013a;Mariti et al, 2013b;Prato-Previde et al, 2003;Rehn et al, 2013;Topál et al, 2005;Valsecchi et al, 2010;White et al, 2017). Overall, attachment theory and the Strange Situation test have been used to study human-dog relationships across different canine occupations (e.g., pet dogs and search and rescue dogs; Mariti et al, 2013b) and caregivers (e.g., puppy walker, trainer and blind owner; Valsecchi et al, 2010).…”

Universitários Que Convivem Com Animais De Estimação Apresentam Menores Níveis De Ansiedade

“…O aumento na liberação de alguns neurotransmissores como a dopamina promove a sensação de prazer e a motivação, enquanto as endorfinas possuem efeito em áreas cerebrais responsáveis pela modulação da dor, do humor, da depressão e da ansiedade (BLUM et al, 2015;BUDELMANN et al, 2017) Na comparação dos níveis de ansiedade considerando a espécie do animal de estimação, observou-se que a AE foi menor (p < 0,01) nos universitários que convivem com cães, quando comparados àqueles que não convivem (Tabela 4). O fato de ter sido observada diferença significativa na AE apenas nos voluntários que convivem com cães pode estar relacionado ao fato de que esta espécie, geralmente, apresenta alto nível de apego com o tutor, estando esta variável diretamente proporcional à qualidade de vida do tutor (WHITE et al, 2017). Adicionalmente, foi observado em estudo prévio (SMOLKOVIC et al, 2012) que o apego do tutor com cão é maior que com outras espécies.…”