No description available.

A descriptive study using grounded theory methodology proposed to explore the process of attachment between elders and their pet dogs. Five informants aged sixty-one to eighty-four participated in the study. Eleven interviews provided data for analysis. Data analysis revealed a process where elderly informants reported 'something missing' in their lives previous to pet ownership. Pet adoption provided 'someone' to communicate with, 'someone' to come to know and understand, and 'someone' to be with and share everyday life. Filling the Void emerged as the core concept describing these processes. Further research requires a larger sample to allow more thorough theoretical sampling and subsequent variation in the data. Implications of this research for nursing practice include the need for nurses to be alert to the possibility a pet may be functioning as an attachment figure in the life of an older adult.

Although attention to the effects of child-animal interactions on children's development has increased in the last three decades, developmental psychology has not attended to the importance of the effects of animals on children's development. There is a need to consider the possible impacts of animals as significant social partners for children's socioemotional development. The current study, through survey questionnaires and interview methods, investigated whether interacting with animals, especially when children have responsibilities for the welfare of pets and perhaps have formed strong attachments with pets, will promote children's socio-emotional development, specifically their abilities to take the perspective of others. Sixty-five students who attended the local humane society's summer camp program, and students who participated in a monthly humane education program as part of their after school program were invited to participate in the study. All participants completed seven surveys and one telephone or face-to-face interview that were designed to measure their attitudes toward animals and humans, as well as their abilities to take the perspective of others. A linear regression analysis, Chi-Square test, and correlation coefficient test were conducted to assess the quality of interaction with pets on children's humane attitudes toward animals and humans, empathy, as well as their perspective taking abilities. It was found that students who showed stronger attachment toward their pets showed more humane attitudes toward animals and toward humans than students who showed weaker attachment toward their pets. Additionally, it was found that students who showed stronger attachment with their pets had higher levels of social cognitive development (i.e., perspective taking abilities) than students who showed weaker attachment with their pets. Also, significant correlations among variables, such as students' knowledge of animal care, attitudes toward animals and humans, attachment with pets, perspective taking abilities, were found. Lastly, students whose parents show more effective guidance on pet care have more advanced skills of thinking and solving problems in flexible manner than students who do not receive any or less guidance on pet care at home. Findings from the current study suggest the importance of humane education programs as well as effective parental guidance in pet care at home to promote students' knowledge of animal care and humane attitudes toward animals, which influence students' ability to take perspective of others. Promoting such knowledge and attitudes of children may help to promote their empathy and ability to take perspective of others. Having such abilities will alternately help children to have high interpersonal skills, which is a key to have a more successful life in society.

Moving into an institutional environment may cause feelings of anxiety, depression, grief or loss in the increasing number of elderly residents in long term care facilities. The lived experience of pet visitation was explored as a possible remedy. This study is significant because findings provide information about intervention strategies to assist residents in comfort and adjustment.Five themes, identified in ten interviews of residents in three midwest long term care facilities, illustrated that pet interaction: (a) contributed a sense of responsibility, environmental control, (b) afforded unconditional caring, companionship, (c) provided a connection with family and home. (d) furnished a sense of identity in the facility community, and (e) provided a sense of being protected within the facility. Evidence supports that pet visitation is a beneficial experience to the residents in long term care facilities. Study results are available for facility administrators as encouragement and justification to establish pet visitation programs. / School of Nursing

Loneliness is a significant problem for older adults and can lead to negative health and social outcomes. Having a companion pet is beginning to be recognized as a way loneliness can be reduced for older persons. The purpose of this descriptive study was to determine the effect of pets on the level of loneliness in persons 60 years old or older who live alone and independently in a large metropolitan community in the North Central Texas area. Using a non-random snowball sample of older individuals (N = 252), who met the study criteria, each subject was administered the researcher-developed demographic data survey instrument containing the following variables: (a) pets - having a pet/wanting a pet, (b) age, (c) gender, (d) marital status, (e) living alone, (f) losses within the last six months, (g) interactions with family members, (h) interactions with others outside of the family, (i) highest educational level achieved, (j) employment or volunteer involvement in the community, (k) religious participation, and (l) self perceived health status. The UCLA Loneliness Scale Version 3 was used to obtain the loneliness scores. Prediction of loneliness and relationship with the independent variables was tested using frequency, correlation, analysis of variance (ANOVA), and multivariate analysis using ordinary least-squares (OLS) regression analysis. The findings from this study showed that those older adults living alone who did not have a pet but would like to have a companion pet had higher levels of loneliness (p<0.05). Other findings suggested that older adults' loneliness was less if they had moderate religious participation and interactions with others (p< 0.05). Future studies are needed to examine the effects that pets have on feelings of loneliness and the ability of older individuals to cope effectively with those feelings.

As the older population increases, there is a need for increased support for caregivers most of them older themselves. Owning a pet may providesome of this support. This study looked at caregivers age 55 and older of brain-impaired adults and examined whether or not the social support provided by pets during the caregiving time contributes to their well-being.

For centuries humans and animals have shared their lives. However, it is only in recent decades that the phenomenon of the human-animal bond and the possible therapeutic implications thereof has begun to be explored. Due to this exploration, many research programmes have sprung up around the world, investigating the implementation of animals as an intervention in various institutions. These programmes have produced overwhelmingly positive and encouraging results. However, the research remains sparse where the significance of a naturally occurring human-animal bond is concerned. From within an ecosystemic worldview, the relationship between humans and animals in the wider family system has not been extensively investigated. This dissertation explores such a relationship, investigating the meanings and experiences within the relationship, and how this relationship and significant systems around it impact one another. The implications and possible therapeutic nature of this type of relationship will be considered. / Psychology / M.A. (Clinical Psychology)

For centuries humans and animals have shared their lives. However, it is only in recent decades that the phenomenon of the human-animal bond and the possible therapeutic implications thereof has begun to be explored. Due to this exploration, many research programmes have sprung up around the world, investigating the implementation of animals as an intervention in various institutions. These programmes have produced overwhelmingly positive and encouraging results. However, the research remains sparse where the significance of a naturally occurring human-animal bond is concerned. From within an ecosystemic worldview, the relationship between humans and animals in the wider family system has not been extensively investigated. This dissertation explores such a relationship, investigating the meanings and experiences within the relationship, and how this relationship and significant systems around it impact one another. The implications and possible therapeutic nature of this type of relationship will be considered. / Psychology / M.A. (Clinical Psychology)