Capturing the Relational Factors Within Human-Companion Animal Relationships That Predict Human Psychological Well-Being and Caring for Companion Animals

Abstract

The current study investigated the nature of the psychological connection that exists within the human-companion animal relationship and tested which specific relational factors predict both the guardians’ psychological well-being as well as their tendency to care and feel affection for their companion animal. The following relational factors were investigated: Positive contact with one’s companion animal, quality of the human-companion animal relation, human-companion animal compatibility, attachment to the companion animal, and unconditional acceptance of one’s companion animal. Data from a diverse sample of American pet owners (N = 535) were analyzed. Quality of the human-companion animal relation, unconditional acceptance of one’s companion animal, and positive contact with one’s animal predicted a greater tendency to care and feel affection for the animal. While quality of the human-companion animal relation also predicted higher well-being among guardians, human-companion animal compatibility was a particularly clear predictor of human well-being. In contrast, anxious attachment to one’s companion animal predicted lower human well-being. These associations were observed over and above the role played by sociodemographic and social resources variables. Finally, when levels of human-companion animal compatibility were high, guardians’ caring behaviors for their companion animal were associated positively with their own well-being, suggesting that caring for one’s animal can have positive implications for the guardians’ well-being if they perceive that the personality of their companion animal is highly compatible with their own. These findings confirm the importance of investigating the nature of the human-companion animal relationship, and contribute to identifying factors that can strengthen the benefits that both humans and animals experience within this relationship. By capturing which relational factors predict beneficial outcomes for humans and their companion animals, the current research identifies routes through which we can promote more mutuality within human-companion animal relations