A study on the benefits of human-pet relationships

2017 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 26590154
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Challenging Exploratory Research
• Allocation Type: Multi-year Fund
• Research Field: Clinical psychology
• Research Institution: Yamagata University
• Principal Investigator: Fujioka Kumiko 山形大学, 地域教育文化学部, 教授 (80306472)
• Project Period (FY): 2014-04-01 – 2018-03-31
• Keywords: ペット / アタッチメント / 伴侶動物

Outline of Final Research Achievements

Many empirical studies have been conducted regarding correlations between pet ownership and physical and/or mental health. The purpose of the present study was to examine attachment functions of pets, focusing on the extent to which owners rely on their pets relative to other attachment figures;best friends and romantic partners, correlations between perceived stress and functions of attachment figures. Results revealed that male owners had greater reliance on their pets than human attachment figures, indicating that they preferred to be near their pets especially in times of emotional distress. For female owners, three attachment figures served them equally. For male participants, the perceived stress of adverse life events that recently experienced were positively associated with attachment functions of best friends, whereas daily hassles were positively associated with attachment functions of both pets and romantic partners.

Free Research Field

発達心理学