Companion Animal Attachment Its Influence Upon the Emotional Well - Being ofElders Living in the Community

摘要

There is a need to identify the meaning of companion animals in daily life and toexplore the ways in which the presence of companion animals can affect the health and well-being of elders. The purpose of this study was to explore the extent to which attachment with a companion animal reduces loneliness in community-dwelling elders. A convenience sample of 81 pet owners was used. The participants completed both the Abbreviated Loneliness Scale (ABLS) and the Lexington Attachment to Pets Scale (LAPS). A Pearson's Product Moment Correlation revealed a weak, positive relationship between loneliness and attachment that was not statistically significant. A secondary analysis was performed to compare extreme scores of the ABLS as two groups; least lonely and most lonely. The results showed a significant difference in means on the LAPS between the two groups. The more lonely the elder was, the more attached they were to their pet. Various possibilities were cited as feasible explanations for why the initial research questions were not supported. In addition, other questions of interest were examined. This study supports the belief that in exploring the relationship between elders and their pets, particularly in the arena of pet attachment and well-being, the connection can be multi-faceted and complex.