Creature comforts: personal communities, pets and the work of managing a long-term condition

Abstract

Objectives:To explore in the context of peoples’ personal social networks, the contribution that pets make to ‘the work’ associated with the management of long-term conditions.Method:Mixed methods survey with nested parallel qualitative study; 300 participants were drawn from diabetes and chronic heart disease registers of General Practices across Greater Manchester in the North West of England. Notions of ‘work’ were used to describe the illness and everyday activities associated with chronic illness.Results:Nineteen percent of participants identified at least one pet within their network. Pets contributed mostly to managing emotions (emotional work), to enhancing a sense of self identity (biographical work) and to a lesser extent practical tasks (everyday work). There were indicators that pets mediated relationships for people living with a long-term condition through very weak ties with others in domestic and community settings.Conclusion:The findings suggest that pets have unique qualities and are not simply substitutes for human relationships in long-term condition management. The study has potential implications for furthering a social contextual analysis of chronic illness, the understanding of relationships, and the meaning and the role of companion animals in long-term condition management.

Ontological security and connectivity provided by pets: a study in the self-management of the everyday lives of people diagnosed with a long-term mental health condition

“…Previous research has demonstrated the utility of pets for mediating social connections linked to the mobilisation of resources for those with long-term physical conditions [32]. Here we extend the focus of this previous analysis to the role of pets for mental illness, which is currently equivocal and underexplored.…”

“…The notion of illness work was preferred to alternative theories of social support as it provides a useful lens through which to understand the resources, networks and relationships associated with the management of severe mental illness and allows participants to self-identify a wide range of contributors relevant to their unique circumstances [1, 10, 32]. …”

Cat and Dog Exposure and Respiratory Morbidities in Cystic Fibrosis

“…Several studies have examined the psychosocial benefits of pet ownership with chronic illness. (28, 29) It is likely that these benefits apply to pet owners in the CF population as well, especially given equivalent rates of cat ownership among individuals with CF compared with the general population, and higher rates of dog ownership than the general population. Prospective studies are needed to confirm the relationships between cats, dogs, respiratory outcomes, and infection.…”

Horse Play: A Brief Psychological Intervention for Disengaged Youths

“…There is evidence that other animals may also provide a therapeutic impact in their own right. For instance, Brooks et al (2013) studied the relationships between people with chronic diseases and their pets. They concluded that the pets held a unique place within the broader social network and played a therapeutic role that extended beyond mere social contact.…”

“…However, empirical evidence only provides weak support for the efficacy of EFP (Ratliffe & Sanekane, 2009). Little is known about the mechanisms by which EFP can impact well-being (Brooks, Pilgrim, & Rogers, 2013). Although EFP can involve a range of horse-related activities (e.g., riding, grooming, handling, and lunging), many programs rely on the serendipitous therapeutic benefit derived from pleasurable interactions with horses rather than on planned psychoeducational or therapeutic content.…”