Personality factors, depression, anxiety, and stress in pet owners

Gonzatti, Valéria; Oliveira, Camila Rosa de; Alminhana, Letícia Oliveira; Hausen, Daiane Oliveira; Schütz, Daiana Meregalli; Costa, Dalton Breno; Trevizan, Luciano; Argimon, Irani Iracema de Lima; Irigaray, Tatiana Quarti

doi:10.15448/1980-8623.2021.4.35289

Cited by 3 publications

(1 citation statement)

References 27 publications

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“…There have been several studies that have found that companion animal ownership benefits well-being. Companion animal owners report lower levels of anxiety [18] and depression [19], and more positive affect [20]. These effects are especially pronounced amongst vulnerable groups including the elderly [21,22], people living alone [23], and people living with life-threatening and life-limiting diseases (e.g., HIV-AIDS) [24].…”

Section: Past Research On Companion Animal Ownership and Mental Well-...mentioning

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: Past Research On Companion Animal Ownership and Mental Well-...mentioning

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

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

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Development and validation of the Companion Animals Self-Expansion Scale

Ellis,

Stanton,

Hawkins

et al. 2024

Human-Animal Interactions

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Although many people experience a close and complex relationship with their companion animals, our understanding and measurement of this relationship has lagged far behind that of human-human relationships. Important advances in human-human relationship concepts and measurement have yet to be applied in the context of human-companion animal relationships, including the critically relevant concept of self-expansion (i.e. the process through which positive content is added to the self). The aim of this research was to develop and validate a new full and short-form measure of self-expansion within the human-companion animal relationship, the Companion Animals Self-Expansion Scale (CASES). The sample included in the exploratory factor analysis (EFA) phase consisted of 366 adult English-speaking companion animal owners, while the sample included in the confirmatory factor analysis (CFA) phase consisted of 368 adult English-speaking companion animal owners. All participants completed demographic questions and the CASES. Analyses revealed the full version of the CASES to be 15 items, six of which were retained for the short form of the scale based on their consistently high-factor loadings and theoretically relevant content. The CASES, as well as its short form, the CASES-SF, are both reliable and valid in measuring self-expansion within the human-companion animal relationship.

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