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- Title
The Associations between Human–Companion Animal Relationship Duration, Companion Animal Life Stage, and Relationship Quality.
- Authors
Ellis, Annalyse; Loughnan, Steve; Hawkins, Roxanne D.; Stanton, Sarah C. E.
- Abstract
Simple Summary: The present research explored the links between human–pet relationship duration, pet life stage, and four markers of relationship quality: pet-related self-expansion, perceived pet responsiveness, perceived pet insensitivity, and human–animal bond, for dog and cat owners. Human–pet relationship duration negatively predicted self-expansion for dog and cat owners, and self-expansion was also higher for owners of younger pets compared to owners of older pets. Perceived pet responsiveness, perceived pet insensitivity, and human–animal bond were not associated with relationship duration or pet life stage. The findings of the present research indicate that human–pet relationship duration and pet life stage have implications for how much people feel a pet helps them grow. Although many companion animal (or "pet") owners report that their relationships with their pets are important, we know little about how animal ownership duration and animal life stage are related to relationship quality. In a sample of 1303 dog and cat owners, the present research explored the associations between relationship duration, pet life stage (puppy/kitten, young adult, mature adult, and senior), and four markers of relationship quality: pet-related self-expansion, perceived pet responsiveness, perceived pet insensitivity, and human–animal bond. We found that relationship duration was negatively and linearly associated with self-expansion for both dog and cat owners. Results comparing relationship quality markers across pet life stages revealed that for both dog and cat owners, self-expansion was higher for owners of younger animals compared to owners of older animals. There were no significant effects for perceived pet responsiveness, perceived pet insensitivity, or human–animal bond based on relationship duration or animal life stage. These findings indicate that the duration of the relationship with one's pet and animal life stage have implications for how much people feel a pet helps them grow, whereas other markers of human–pet relationship quality likely vary based on other experiences.
- Subjects
PETS; RELATIONSHIP quality; HUMAN-animal relationships; CAT owners; PET owners; DOG owners; YOUNG adults
- Publication
Animals (2076-2615), 2024, Vol 14, Issue 11, p1606
- ISSN
2076-2615
- Publication type
Article
- DOI
10.3390/ani14111606