Exploring the Role of Empathy as a Dual Mediator in the Relationship between Human–Pet Attachment and Quality of Life: A Survey Study among Adult Dog Owners

Sung, J. Y.; Han, Jin Soo

doi:10.3390/ani13132220

Cited by 1 publication

(1 citation statement)

References 47 publications

(74 reference statements)

Supporting

Mentioning

Contrasting

Order By: Relevance

“…Bowlby’s attachment theory 35 , 79 states that the interaction with the primary attachment figure establishes the attachment style (secure or insecure 80 , 81 ), which becomes an internal working model and can be transferred to other close relationships later in life. 35 A secure attachment style in adults has been found to be associated with better mental health, 82 , 83 , 84 whereas insecure attachment style is associated with higher risk of depression and anxiety. 85 Studies on pet attachment have shown that attachment theory may be extended to human-animal attachment, 86 where the pet acts as an attachment figure.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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

Żebrowska,

Strohmaier,

Huttenhower

et al. 2024

JAMA Netw Open

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

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.

show abstract