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Mental and Social Health

Edith Cowan University

Theses/Dissertations

Pet owners -- Psychology

Publication Year

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The Benefits Of Pet Ownership For Single Adults In Midlife, Lauren Mcgillivray Jan 2008

The Benefits Of Pet Ownership For Single Adults In Midlife, Lauren Mcgillivray

Theses : Honours

Pets are shown to enhance quality of life through support and companionship. Midlife is a time where pets may be most valuable, since it is a time that involves critical changes to intimate relationships, roles and status. In this article a critical review of the literature on midlife development and demographic trends was carried out. Further, the psychological literature on human-pet relationships was reviewed and integrated with midlife research. Evidence for the psychological and physical benefits of pets is examined and the implications and potential benefits for middle aged adults are discussed. Findings suggest that pets may help to reduce …


The Psychological Impact Of Companion Animals For Older Adults Who Reside Alone, Tess Reed Jan 2003

The Psychological Impact Of Companion Animals For Older Adults Who Reside Alone, Tess Reed

Theses : Honours

Companion animals have been identified as improving the physical and emotional health of some older adults (Collis & McNicholas, 1998). This qualitative study explored the psychological impact of owning a cat or a dog for persons aged 65 or older who resided alone. Nine participants, two male and seven female, were recruited through local media advertisements in the Guildford area to participate in a semi-structured interview about their relationship with their pet. Following transcription the semi-structured interviews were analysed using thematic analysis (Aronson, 1994). Four major themes emerged with participants reporting their pets provided satisfaction that impacted on several areas …