Biomaterial Database

Mental health implications of human attachment to companion animals. 2012

Jasmin Peacock, and Anna Chur-Hansen, and Helen Winefield

University of Adelaide, Australia.

OBJECTIVE Because of the contradictory nature of findings and methodological weaknesses identified within current human-companion animal bond research, there is a need to further explore the connection between human-animal bonds and mental health. METHODS The purpose of this survey questionnaire study was to explore the relationship of attachment to companion animal and human psychological distress after controlling for demographic variables, and to investigate whether the relationship between social supports and psychological distress would be moderated by attachment to a companion animal. RESULTS Results highlight the psychological vulnerability of individuals reporting a strong bond with their companion animal. CONCLUSIONS These findings are discussed in terms of their implications for mental health services designed to anticipate and address client-related companion animal needs.

UI	MeSH Term	Description	Entries
D008297	Male		Males
D008603	Mental Health	Emotional, psychological, and social well-being of an individual or group.	Mental Hygiene,Health, Mental,Hygiene, Mental
D008875	Middle Aged	An adult aged 45 - 64 years.	Middle Age
D011795	Surveys and Questionnaires	Collections of data obtained from voluntary subjects. The information usually takes the form of answers to questions, or suggestions.	Community Survey,Nonrespondent,Questionnaire,Questionnaires,Respondent,Survey,Survey Method,Survey Methods,Surveys,Baseline Survey,Community Surveys,Methodology, Survey,Nonrespondents,Questionnaire Design,Randomized Response Technique,Repeated Rounds of Survey,Respondents,Survey Methodology,Baseline Surveys,Design, Questionnaire,Designs, Questionnaire,Methods, Survey,Questionnaire Designs,Questionnaires and Surveys,Randomized Response Techniques,Response Technique, Randomized,Response Techniques, Randomized,Survey, Baseline,Survey, Community,Surveys, Baseline,Surveys, Community,Techniques, Randomized Response
D001841	Human-Animal Bond	The emotional attachment of individuals to animals.	Animal-Human Bonding,Bonding, Human-Pet,Human-Animal Bonding,Human-Pet Bonding,Pet-Human Bonding,Animal Human Bonding,Animal-Human Bondings,Bond, Human-Animal,Bonding, Animal-Human,Bonding, Human Pet,Bonding, Human-Animal,Bonding, Pet-Human,Bondings, Animal-Human,Bondings, Human-Pet,Bonds, Human-Animal,Human Animal Bond,Human Animal Bonding,Human Pet Bonding,Human-Animal Bondings,Human-Animal Bonds,Human-Pet Bondings
D002415	Cats	The domestic cat, Felis catus, of the carnivore family FELIDAE, comprising over 30 different breeds. The domestic cat is descended primarily from the wild cat of Africa and extreme southwestern Asia. Though probably present in towns in Palestine as long ago as 7000 years, actual domestication occurred in Egypt about 4000 years ago. (From Walker's Mammals of the World, 6th ed, p801)	Felis catus,Felis domesticus,Domestic Cats,Felis domestica,Felis sylvestris catus,Cat,Cat, Domestic,Cats, Domestic,Domestic Cat
D004285	Dogs	The domestic dog, Canis familiaris, comprising about 400 breeds, of the carnivore family CANIDAE. They are worldwide in distribution and live in association with people. (Walker's Mammals of the World, 5th ed, p1065)	Canis familiaris,Dog
D005260	Female		Females
D006736	Horses	Large, hoofed mammals of the family EQUIDAE. Horses are active day and night with most of the day spent seeking and consuming food. Feeding peaks occur in the early morning and late afternoon, and there are several daily periods of rest.	Equus caballus,Equus przewalskii,Horse, Domestic,Domestic Horse,Domestic Horses,Horse,Horses, Domestic
D006801	Humans	Members of the species Homo sapiens.	Homo sapiens,Man (Taxonomy),Human,Man, Modern,Modern Man